New Delhi: The Central Government today said that it has opened more than 2.7 lakh schools under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

The scheme is being implemented in partnership with State Governments to address the educational needs of children in the age group of 6-14 years of the country.

The Economic Survey for 2008-09, tabled in Parliament today, said, "Achievements of SSA till December 2008 are opening of 276,903 new schools, construction of 225,383 school buildings, construction of 918,981 additional classrooms, 182,019 drinking water facilities, construction of 251,023 toilets, supply of free textbooks to 8.4 crore (84 million) children, appointment of 9.66 lakh (966,000) teachers and in-service training for 23.82 lakh (2.38 million) teachers."

There has been a significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children on account of SSA interventions.

The report says, "An ordinance has been promulgated under Article 123 of the Constitution for establishment of 15 Central Universities including the conversion of three State Universities into Central Universities - one in each such state which does not have a Central University except Goa which has not been included at the request of the State Government."

The report also mentions that six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), one each in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat and Punjab have been set up during 2008-09. Classes have also been started from the academic session 2008-09.

One new Indian Institute of Management (IIM) namely the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM) at Shillong in Meghalaya has started functioning from the academic session 2008-09.

Two new Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs) have been set up at Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram, which have started functioning with the academic session 2008-09.

A new Scholarship Scheme has been started to cover top 2 per cent of the student population of Class XII. This has been divided equally between girls and boys. Under the scholarship students are provided providing an amount of Rs.1,000 per month for 10 months in a year for the first three years of undergraduate level studies and Rs.2,000 per month for 10 months in a year for subsequent 2 years.

The Economic Survey also shows that the proposal for the third phase of expansion of the ICDS scheme for 792 additional projects, 2.13 lakh additional Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and 77,102 mini-AWCs and a proposal for 20,000 AWCs on demand has also been approved in October 2008 and administrative sanctions have been issued to all states/UTs.

This would take the total number of Anganwadi Centres to 14 lakh across the country with special focus on coverage of SC/ST and minority population.