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org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

Role of School Management and Development

Committee Members (SMDC) in the Context of
Universalization of Secondary Education
Ajay Kumar Behera
Teacher Educator,
Govt. Elementary Teacher Education Institution (E.T.E.I),
Langaleswar, Balasore

Abstract

Universalization of Elementary Education is being achieved through successful implementation of Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan (SSA). There is a need to achieve universalize secondary education as it is the milestone between the
elementary education and higher education. (MHRD, Framework for Implementation of RMSA,2011). For achieving
universalization of secondary education a scheme has been launched by MHRD viz. Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha
Abhiyan (RMSA). Under this scheme there is a committee viz. School Management and Development Committee
(SMDC) should be formulate at every secondary school level for smooth functioning of the secondary school. They
play their crucial role at secondary school level for universalization of secondary education. Thus, the present study
was conducted to know the role of SMDC members in the context of Universalization of Secondary Education with
the objectives to know their role perception and role performance in the context of universalization of secondary
education and problem associated with the functioning of SMDC. The data was collected through interview schedule
for parent SMDC members and Questionnaire for teacher SMDC members and the data was analyzed through
percentage, content and document analysis techniques. The study revealed that Majority of SMDC members had
reported in favors of repairing of school building, development of school , providing free test book,
hostel facility and arrangement of training for teachers. There are some issues associated with the
functioning of SMDC members viz., lack of peon to make school neat and clean, restriction to use
the students in work, lack of financial assistance from Govt. to the school. Lack of room for provision
of hotel facilities, library, laboratory room, and computer lab and also Political interference is a
major problem in getting contribution from Govt.

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Keyword: Universalization, Secondary Education, RMSA, SMDC, SSA, MHRD.

The Context

Secondary education serves as a link between elementary education and higher education. It is a crucial stage in the
educational hierarchy as it prepares the students for higher education and also for the world of work. Class IX and
X constitute the secondary stage, whereas class XI and XII are designated as the higher secondary stage. The normal
age group of the children in secondary classes is 14-16 whereas it is 16-18 for higher secondary classes (Framework
for Implementation of RMSA,2011). There are only 1,28, 370 secondary schools (IX-X) and 71, 814 higher
secondary schools where 3.17 crore students are enrolled in secondary schools (IX-X) and 1.94 crore students
enrolled in higher secondary level. The gross enrolment ratio is 65.0% at secondary level and 39.3% at higher
secondary level. The dropout rate at secondary level (IX- X) is 49.3%. The Pupil Teacher Ratio at secondary level
(IX-X) is 30 and 34 at higher secondary stage (XI-XII) (MHRD, 2014). By analyzing these statistics, it is absolutely
essential to strengthen this stage by providing greater access and also by improving quality in a significant way. So,
providing secondary education to all learners with a focus on quality education assumes greater meaning today.
Universalization of Elementary Education being achieved through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). To attain
Universalization of Secondary Education (USE), a scheme launched by MHRD with effect from the year 2009 with
the objectives to make secondary education of good quality available, accessible and affordable to young person in
the age group of 14-18 years. Under this scheme each secondary school is required to have a committee known as
School Management and Development Committee (SMDC) which play a very critical role in the context of USE.
These committees constitute 17 members and will be responsible for all the activities, including planning, collection
of data under SEMIS, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and taking remedial actions on all the components
interactions of the school infrastructure as well as academic and other, at the school level. The SMDC will be assisted
by two sub-committees viz. (i) School Building Committee, (ii) Academic Committee, headed by Principal and vice-
principal respectively. (Framework for Implementation of RMSA, 2011).

Research Background
There was lack of awareness and poor participation among the SMDC members in prescribed activities and also
found that they had performed their role better in equity related activities and less performed in the activities which
are enhancing quality in secondary education Battacharya and Gowrama,2018). SMDC is responsible for all
activities including planning, collection of data under SEMIS, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and taking
corrective remedial actions on all the component, intervention of the school infrastructure as well as academic and
other activities at school level (Babulal, 2012). Major issues for SMDC members in their role are low economic
status of families and illiteracy of parents do not inspire their children to study in secondary schools, lack of
infrastructure facilities in schools, lack of awareness to prepare SDP, lack of funds etc. (Bhattacharya and
Gowramma, 2018) Girls drop-out rate are higher than the boys at secondary level. There is a need of professional
development of school administrators and additional training is needed for empowering and supporting teachers in
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collaborative activities (Chavare, 1991). The guiding principles of universal secondary education should be
universal access, equality and social justice relevance and development and structural and curricular considerations.
There have to be norms for schooling. Decentralized micro-level planning should be the main approach to planning
and implementation of universal secondary education (CABE, 2005). A concerted national effort will be made to
ensure universal access and afford opportunity to all children of the country to obtain quality holistic education–
including vocational education and provide effective and sufficient infrastructure so that all students have access to
safe and engaging school education at all levels from pre-school to Grade 12 (NEP, 2020).The factors of drop out
of the students were poor interest of students due to heavy syllabi, illiteracy of parents, punishment at school, and
large family size in poor families and poor pupil-teacher relationship (Yadav, 1991). There have been a study growth
of educational facilities at the primary stage and children have schooling facilities within a distance of one km
(Bhargava, 1990). There was a kind of built in resistance among the landless agricultural labors, scheduled castes
and tribes etc. to availing of the facilities for primary education and therefore, the needs for sustained and vigorous
devices was imperative and the facilities available were underutilized (Mandal, 1980). Involvement of Local
Educational Authorities in providing educational provisions in their own area was difficult to attribute LEA support
for a bipartite or tripartite system to supreme acquiesce; the LEAs involved were also making a principled choice to
define the nature of educational provisions in their own area (McCulloch, 2002). Apart from this, there are also
some commissions viz. Sargent Report (1944), Secondary Education Commissions (1952-53) and report of the
CABE committee made recommendations on secondary education.

Objectives of the Study

i. To study the performance and perception of SMDC members about their role in the context of
Universalization of Secondary Education envisaged under Rashtriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
ii. To study the issues associated with the functioning of SMDC in the context of USE.
iii. To make an in-depth case study of selected SMDC, so as to gain a detailed understanding pertaining to their
functioning in the context of USE.
iv. To suggest measures to strengthen the SMDC, so as to functioning effectively for the USE in the locality.
Research Questions
1. What role do the members of SMDC play for the USE and what are the role perceived by them in their locality,
particularly in the following areas?
 Functioning of SMDC
 Facilities provided to the students
 Infrastructure of the school
 Development of the school
 Construction of school building
 Requirement of quality teachers

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3. What are the issues associated with the functioning of SMDC in the context of USE, particularly in the
following areas?

 Functioning of SMDC
 Facilities provided to the students
 Infrastructure of the school
 Development of the school
 Construction of school building
 Requirement of quality teachers

Design and Methodology of the Study

The present study comes under the descriptive survey and case study approach. Through purposive sampling
technique one High school of Bhograi Block of Balasore District in Odisha was selected for case study. The members
of SMDC of that school were selected incidentally. Two self-made tools were used for data collection viz., Interview
schedule for parent SMDC members and Questionnaires for teacher SMDC members. And these tools were
standardized by the expert. Field notes were also used by the researcher during the process of data collection. The
data collected through questionnaire and interview schedule was analyzed with the help of percentage, content and
document analysis techniques.

Findings of the Study

Here, finding pertaining to the role perception and role performance and issues associated with the
functioning of SMDC has been presented as follows:

A. Finding related to role perception and role performance of SMDC members

(i) Majority SMDC members had reported in favors of repairing of school building, development
of school.

(ii) Majority of SMDC parent members had give n their opinion in favors of providing free test
book, hostel facility and arrangement of training for teachers.

(iii) The SMDC members had reported that sufficient member of financial assistance should be
given by the Govt. to schools for reporting of sch ool building.

(iv) Majority of SMDC members had given their opinion that Govt. should take immediate step for
appointment of required number of quality teachers.

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Table No- 1: Role performance of SMDC members:

Sl Areas of Role performance of Activities performed by SMDC Members

No SMDC Members

1 Functioning of SMDC  Solving the problem arises in the school

(92%).
 Healthy relationship with community
(92%).
 Solving the problem of student (98%).

2 Facilities provided to the students
 Necessary arrangement for SCs and STs
(85%).
 Essential arrangement for educationally
backward (83%).
 Separate toilet for both boys and girls
(81%).
 Drinking water facilities (98%).
 Study tour and picnic for students (81%).

3 Infrastructure of school  Appropriate classroom for teaching (90%).

 Appropriate library facilities for students
(75%).
 Common room for teachers (94%).
 Arrangement of bench and desk for
students (94%).

4 Development of school  Organising PTA & MTA (94%)

 Celerbating Annual function (98%).
 Contribution from Govt. to the school
(91%).
 Arrangement of playground (81%).
 Contribution from community (60%).

5 Construction of school building  Repairing of school building (91%).

 Coloring of school building (91%).
 Neat and cleanliness of the school (91%).

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 Construction of boundary wall around the

school (80%).

6 Requirement of quality teachers  Efforts made for appointment of teachers

(89%).
 Arrangement of training for teachers
(72%).
 Supervise the teaching programmed (85%).
 Organize seminars in the school (62%).

Table no-1 shows that SMDC members have performed many activities in different areas, viz., in
functioning of SMDC majority of SMDC members performed the activities like, Solving the problem
arises in the school, Healthy relationshi p with community, Solving the problem of student etc. In the
area of facilities provided to the students majority of SMDC members have reported that they have
performed the activities viz., Necessary arrangement for SCs and STs, Extra facilities for challenged
learner, Essential arrangement for educationally backward, Separate toilet for both boys and girls,
Drinking water facilities, Study tour and picnic for students. There are many activities performed by
SMDC members in the area of infrastructure of school like, Appropriate classroom for teaching,
Appropriate library facilities for students, Common room for teachers, Arrangement of bench and
desk for students etc. Majority of SMDC members have reported that they have performed the
activities like, Organizing PTA & MTA, Celebrating Annual function, Contribut ion from Govt. to
the school, Arrangement of playground, Contribution from community in the area of development of
schools. In the area of construction of school building Repairing of school building, coloring of
school building, Neat and cleanliness of th e school, Construction of bounda ry wall around the school
are some of the activities performed by SMDC members. The SMDC members have reported that
they have performed many activities in the area of requirement of teachers viz., Efforts made for
appointment of teachers, Arrangement of training for teachers, Supervise the teaching programmed,
Organize seminars in the school etc.

B. Findings pertaining to issues associated with the functioning of SMDC are:

(i) Majority of SMDC members reported that there are some issues associated with to make school
neat and clean like, lack of peon, restriction to sue the student in work.

(ii) More number of SMDC members had reported that due to illiteracy and lack of awareness
among parent girls found of other backward students are not get these educations.

(iii) Lack of room for provision of hotel facilities, library laboratory room are computer lab.
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(iv) Majority of SMDC members have reported that there is lack of financial assistance from Govt.
to the school.

(v) Political interference is a major problem in getting contribution from Govt.

(vi) SMDC member had also reported that Govt. should provide sufficient number of fu nd, room,
laboratory equipment and computer to the school.

(vii) Majority of SMDC members had reported that there is lack of fund for repairing of school building
as well as classroom.

(viii) They had also reported that required number of money should be g ranted for annual function.

(ix) Most of the SMDC member had reported that there is lack of fund for repairing of school
building as well as classroom.

(x) Govt. should take immediate step for appointment of required number of quality teachers in
the schools.

Suggestions for Strengthening of SMDC members:

From the present study the researcher suggests the following measures to strengthen the SMDC
members

 Training needs of the SMDC members.

 SMDC members should aware about their role and responsibilities.
 Hindrances in the way of USE should be eradicated by the Govt.
 Community members should take part in the school for smooth running of the school.
 SMDC members should need cooperation from community, Govt. and other committees in the
schools for attainment of USE.
 More number of training programmes should be provided to the members of SMDC in their
locality.
 Meeting of SMDC should be arranged by regular basis.
 Girls students should get more facilities from the schools as girls drop out are more than the
boys.
 Special provision like scholarship, stipends, etc. should be given to the SCs and STs
Students.
 The Government should provide adequate fund for smooth running of the schools.
 Required number of quality teachers should be appointed within a short duration of time.
 The school building should be repair every year.

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