The Gujarat government has introduced a revised grant policy for aided secondary and higher secondary schools, directly linking financial assistance to average student attendance. In a significant move to support education in remote areas, the policy offers special relief to rural schools operating with just a single class to prevent them from being penalized due to low student numbers.
Special Waiver for Rural Single-Class Schools
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by schools in villages, the state has empowered the commissioner of schools to provide crucial flexibility. In exceptional circumstances, the commissioner can now waive shortages in average attendance of up to 5 students for rural schools that operate with only one class. This measure is designed to protect these vulnerable institutions from being adversely affected by fluctuating attendance due to genuine local constraints. However, any attendance shortfall beyond 5 students will require explicit approval from the state government itself.
Revised Grant Slabs: Urban vs. Rural Criteria
The core of the new policy establishes a direct link between the quantum of grant and average student attendance, with separate criteria fixed for urban and rural areas. The benchmarks for receiving full grants are set at different levels to account for ground realities.
For urban schools, maintaining an average attendance of more than 80% is mandatory to receive the full grant. For rural schools, the threshold is set at a more pragmatic 55%. Attendance falling below these levels will attract slab-based cuts in funding.
Grant Reduction Structure
The policy outlines a detailed slab system for grant reductions:
Urban Schools:
- 75-79% attendance: 25% grant cut.
- 70-74% attendance: 50% grant cut.
- 65-69% attendance: 75% grant cut.
- 60-64% attendance: 80% grant cut.
- Below 60% attendance: 100% grant cut (no grant).
Rural Schools:
- 50-54% attendance: 25% grant cut.
- 45-49% attendance: 50% grant cut.
- 40-44% attendance: 75% grant cut.
- Below 40% attendance: 100% grant cut (no grant).
How Average Attendance is Calculated
The education department has provided clarity on the method for calculating the crucial average attendance figure. The calculation is based on the number of teaching days and the class-wise student strength.
For instance, in a single-class school with 60 enrolled students and 25 teaching days in a month, the daily attendance for all 25 days is added together. This total is then divided by the total number of enrolled students to determine the monthly average attendance. The annual average attendance is subsequently calculated based on these monthly figures, ensuring a comprehensive assessment.
The overarching aim of the new Gujarat school grant policy is twofold: to incentivize and improve regular student attendance across the board, while simultaneously providing limited but essential flexibility to rural schools facing genuine operational hardships. This balanced approach seeks to uphold accountability without compromising educational access in India's villages.
