Retomando el problema inicial

The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) is a process based, time bound and target oriented programme. This has been undertaken by the nation in an abhiyan mode and it covers all the states and union territories so that the entire population children under the age group of 14 to 18 get the opportunity of climbing the ladder of higher education as well as prepare themselves for improving their life and living. Due to the diversities in culture and tradition as well as heterogeneity in educational status and problems, the plans of RMSA developed by the states/UTs are highly contextual. RMSA emphasizes the role of communities, government departments and non-government agencies in planning and implementation of the activities. Therefore, a very careful appraisal of the district and state plans is necessary. The appraisal exercise needs to appraise the process of developing plans, suitability of the interventions and their expected outcomes.

Appraisal is not a fault finding exercise. It is a comprehensive review of the process of planning and planned interventions in order to enrich the plan.

1.1 Objectives of Appraisal

As stated above, appraisal does not aim at finding faults with the planning process or planned interventions. It is a comprehensive review of the process of plan preparation, visioning and rationale of interventions as well as the suitability of interventions. Therefore the appraisal process

adopts a very positive approach to appraise all aspects of the plan. It is not the official sanction of the activities and budgets but it recommends the above for the consideration of the PAB.

The appraisal of the RMSA plans is carried out in order to :

— undertake a comprehensive review of all

aspects and components of a plan;

— review the plan to assess inter-linkages among the national, states and district plans across the components;

— assess the overall focus of the plan whether it addresses itself to the priority objectives/ goals of RMSA or to their linkage with the proposed inputs;

— assess the feasibility and perceived

mechanism for the participation of the served communities and other stakeholders (government and non-government agencies) in RMSA activities;

— assess individual components from the point

of view of technical, managerial and financial feasibilities;

— undertake a holistic assessment of the

strengths and weaknesses of the plan

— assess the preparedness of the state/UT and district to implement the plan.

— provide technical support and facilitate the decision making in approving the plan.

I. An Introduction to Plan Appraisal

The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) is a process based, time bound and target oriented programme. This has been undertaken by the nation in an abhiyan mode and it covers all the states and union territories so that the entire population children under the age group of 14 to 18 get the opportunity of climbing the ladder of higher education as well as prepare themselves for improving their life and living. Due to the diversities in culture and tradition as well as heterogeneity in educational status and problems, the plans of RMSA developed by the states/UTs are highly contextual. RMSA emphasizes the role of communities, government departments and non-government agencies in planning and implementation of the activities. Therefore, a very careful appraisal of the district and state plans is necessary. The appraisal exercise needs to appraise the process of developing plans, suitability of the interventions and their expected outcomes.

Appraisal is not a fault finding exercise. It is a comprehensive review of the process of planning and planned interventions in order to enrich the plan.

1.1 Objectives of Appraisal

As stated above, appraisal does not aim at finding faults with the planning process or planned interventions. It is a comprehensive review of the process of plan preparation, visioning and rationale of interventions as well as the suitability of interventions. Therefore the appraisal process

adopts a very positive approach to appraise all aspects of the plan. It is not the official sanction of the activities and budgets but it recommends the above for the consideration of the PAB.

The appraisal of the RMSA plans is carried out in order to :

— undertake a comprehensive review of all

aspects and components of a plan;

— review the plan to assess inter-linkages among the national, states and district plans across the components;

— assess the overall focus of the plan whether it addresses itself to the priority objectives/ goals of RMSA or to their linkage with the proposed inputs;

— assess the feasibility and perceived

mechanism for the participation of the served communities and other stakeholders (government and non-government agencies) in RMSA activities;

— assess individual components from the point

of view of technical, managerial and financial feasibilities;

— undertake a holistic assessment of the

strengths and weaknesses of the plan

— assess the preparedness of the state/UT and district to implement the plan.

— provide technical support and facilitate the decision making in approving the plan.

National University of Educational Planning and Administration

1.2 The Appraisal Team

The appraisal exercise is generally undertaken at two levels i.e. at the state and national level. At the state level, the district plans are appraised and finalized for submission to the MHRD, GOI. At the national level the state plans and district plans are appraised. The MHRD generally constitutes the appraisal team comprising of TSG Consultants, representatives from national and state level institutions like NUEPA, NCERT and SIEMAT and academicians from universities, management institutions and Monitoring Institutions for appraising the plans of different states and UTs. Following are some of the important points to be considered while constituting the appraisal teams;.

— Since appraisal of education plan is a technical exercise it is important that experts are so nominated that they have both - the expertise in a particular field as well as experience in the field of secondary education; and

— The experts are from the fields of planning methodology, information and data related issues, quality of secondary education, constructions and civil works, educational management, MIS, monitor ing and supervision, community participation, budgeting and costing etc.

Some representatives of the NGOs, community and other stake holders may also be included in the appraisal team.

Each appraisal team should have a team leader.

1.3 The Appraisal Process

Following are some of the important steps involved in the process of appraisal

— The appraisal team is briefed by the MHRD

official and the TOR is provided to the team.

— The team leader and the members of the

appraisal team have a joint meeting to spell out the task to be accomplished by each member providing the time frame.

— The copies of relevant documents and plans

are provided to the team so that the team members study the plan in the desk appraisal exercise and come out with their observations which are shared among them.

— It is suggested that the appraisal team, if possible, visits the concerned state and has the appraisal there. The appraisal team may have the wrap-up meeting with the concerned officer at the end of the visit.

— Towards the end of the appraisal process, an

appraisal report is prepared by the team members as per the format of the appraisal report suggested in this manual.

— The draft of the appraisal report is shared with the concerned MHRD official to give it a final shape.

The Plans which are being appraised have many chapters, each of them deals with general scenario, main issues and related specific components of RMSA. Some of the common aspects which need to the looked into in almost all the chapters are the following;

— Has the plan been developed in line with the

RMSA objectives adopting participatory process of planning involving the PRIs/ community and other stake holders?

— Have the interventions been proposed on the

basis of needs identified through various methods and are they referred to in the plan?

— Is there a clear vision regarding the planned

interventions?

— Has it used scientific techniques of projection, diagnosis etc. as suggested in the manual?

— Does it have authentic data-base and reflects

the views of different sections of people in making quantitative and qualitative proposals?

— Has it planned inter-linkages among the

interventions proposed in various chapters of the plan document?

— Is there correlation among the interventions,

strategies, monitoring and assessment of the outcome of activities?

— Has it taken into account the linkages with

the on-going interventions, other than

RMSA, available in the area for secondary education?

— Have the participation of community and

mobilization and use of community resources in RMSA been clearly stated?

— Have realistic time-frame and responsibility centers been indicated in the plan?

— Is the plan sensitive to the local issues?

— Does the plan adhere to the financial norms?

— Some appraisal issues given in bullets are suggestive and not mandatory. The Appraisal Team will apply its own judgment for effective appraisal of the components.

— Chapter numbers in this part mostly refer to

the chapter numbers of Part Two of the manual

The focus of this section is on presenting the relevant information regarding population, socio-economic and educational situation of the area for which the plan has been prepared. Administrative setup and educational administration mechanisms should also be presented. The chapter should provide sound data-base/information for plan formulation and help the appraisal process. Following are some of the important points to be looked into while appraising the chapter;

— Does the plan reflect on all relevant

information regarding physical features,