Delhi government to hold social audit of schools under Samagra Shiksha scheme

The social audit will be conducted by universities, colleges or technical institutes having a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) rating of B+ and above. Preference will be given to Delhi’s State Administrative University, it stated.

The main purpose of the audit is to ensure that students are getting their entitlements under the Right to Education (RTE) Act and Samagra Shiksha in a fair and timely manner. It will also check the condition of school infrastructure such as classrooms, toilets, drinking water and electricity, besides reviewing the safety of students, especially girls, it reads.

As per the circular, the audit will also look into enrolment, attendance and retention of students, as well as the inclusion of children with special needs.

It will involve parents, teachers and community members in assessing how schools are functioning.

“The social audit is expected to help identify issues on the ground that may not be visible through routine monitoring and will help the government take corrective steps,” an official said.

Samagra Shiksha is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2018 to improve school education from pre-primary to class 12. It combines three earlier schemes — Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education and has been aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The official added that the social audit will also help promote the government’s “zero-tolerance policy” towards any negligence related to the safety and security of students in schools.