BaLA Project - Assessment Report

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Gujarat
BaLA Project – Assessment Report
Background:
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is an Indian Government programme; aimed at the
universalization of elementary education in a time bound manner, as mandated by
the 86th Amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory
education to children between the ages of 6 to 14 a fundamental right. The Act also
provides that if a school does not exist within an area or distance limit prescribed as
the neighborhood, the concerned Government and the local authority shall establish
a school in this area within a period of three years. Therefore, all children- girls and
boys- children from such disadvantaged groups and economically weaker sections,
children with special needs, children involved in child labour and so on, must be in a
school within three years of time.
This provision in the RTE Act is applicable to the SSA goals of providing access to
and universalization of elementary education. Some of the objectives of SSA are to
provide elementary education for all children in the 6-14 age group, to bridge social,
regional and gender gaps with the active participation of community, to allow children
to learn about natural environment, etc.
School is not merely a structure or a building. It is not only the assembly of children
and teachers. It is a specialized, indeed, a very special place for children to learn
and grow. It is a place that shapes their thoughts, one where they can ponder,
question and share experiences. It makes them wonder and be creative.
The responsibility of school is enormous. It should have an environment where
teaching and learning become joyous experience for both teachers and children. The
physical built environment, which includes not only the building and its interior
spaces but also the exterior spaces and land space, play a crucial role in making this
experience more meaningful. It propels them to raise questions and explore
answers, identify problems and attempt solutions. School enables children to interact
with their environment and give direction to their future.
BaLA is an innovative concept towards qualitative enhancement in elementary
education through intervention in school building infrastructure. Since buildings are
the most expensive physical assets of a school, efforts should be made to derive
maximum educational value from them. Thus, BaLA is about exploring uniqueness of
three dimensional space as a child friendly learning resource for all children.
The building elements of normal concrete shapes are modified innovatively to
involve children creatively. The different elements of BaLA may be located in interior
and exterior spaces like classrooms, corridors and backyard so that a variety of
learning situation are generated across the school space. The built structure of the
school can also provide shelter during educational activities.
Objective:
BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) is an innovative concept to improve the quality of
education in India, through the development of child-friendly learning-based school
infrastructure. This concept was developed by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA),
Gujarat with support from UNICEF in 2006 and since then, it is implemented in more
than 2558 Model Schools of 33 districts across the state.
Under BaLA project, the concept of i-BaLA (or inclusive-BaLA), is implemented by
SSA, Gujarat, in which there is a special focus on making inclusive learning
environment for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) in all schools. This is one of its
kind initiative being undertaken in the country and an example for other states. Major
objectives of BaLA project are:
• To make school buildings child-friendly places
• To create a conducive self-learning environment for children
• To promote inclusive learning and to make provisions for CwSN. SSA’s i-
BaLA is a step in achieving this purpose.
• To provide accessibility of learning materials to children, at all times
Methodology:
Impact Assessment was conducted by concerned team of SSA during 2016-17 in
selected Schools of the state where BaLA project is running.
Criterion of survey:
• Selected schools surveyed in selected districts of Gujarat for evaluating the
enrollment and effectiveness of BaLA initiative on CwSN students
The parameters used for the study included:
• School Infrastructure
• Resource Rooms
• Aids and Appliances
• Transport and Escort Allowances
• Corrective Surgeries
• Teacher Trainings
• CwSN Students’ Enrolment
• Teachers participation
Outcome:
The project outcomes are categorized as per the four parameters. Below are the
results.
 School Infrastructure
BaLA project is aimed at improving the quality of education in India, through the
development of child-friendly learning-based school infrastructure. This concept was
developed by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Gujarat with support from UNICEF in
2006 and since then, it is implemented in more than 2558 Model Schools of 33
districts across the state.
Under BaLA project, the concept of i-BaLA (or inclusive-BaLA), is implemented by

SSA, Gujarat, in which there is a special focus on making inclusive learning
environment for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) in all schools. Resources
provided to CwSN children under the programme are:
 Resource Rooms
Resource Rooms, SSA Gujarat has setup Resource Rooms, wherein a total of 255
Resource Rooms are setup that are well equipped with: Group Hearing Systems
(GHS), Visually Impaired (VI) Kits, Mentally Retarded (MR) Kits and Speech Kits. A
CwSN child uses the required equipment here as per guidance provided by experts.
Physiotherapy, Psychotherapy, Speech therapy and other children related therapies

are provided at Resource Rooms. Total 8,650 Children are benefited from Resource
Room Services and therapy support during 2016-17.
 Aids and Appliances

Aids and appliances, are provided to the Orthopedically Handicapped (OH) &
Hearing Impaired (HI) Children as per their requirements and recommendation from
experts during their assessment. Total 1,902 OH children are availed aids and
appliances and training on its utility.
 Transport and Escort Allowances
Transport and escort allowance, are provided to CwSN for attending school. Total
17,342 children were provided Transport allowance and escort facilities during the
year 2016-17.
 Corrective Surgeries
Corrective Surgeries, per the Survey and budget allocation in the year 2016-17, total
65 major and minor surgery are done.
 Teacher Trainings
Teacher trainings, are being organized for the purpose to develop capacity of project
staffs, regular teachers, SMC members and parents.
 CwSN Students’ Enrolment
The project is running for the last 12 years since its inception in 2006. i-Bala is the
recent approach developed by State government to make BaLA elements more child
friendly and inclusive. The programme aims to enroll 100% of the children in age
group 6-14 years under Right to Education Act-2009 (RTE). For doing this, there is a
need to make the teaching process inclusive and uniform in terms of quality across
all schools. The infrastructure needs to be developed catering to the special
requirements of CwSN candidates.
Gujarat has made significant progress already in enrolling the CwSN candidates to
the schools. As per a survey undertaken in September-October 2016, there are a
total of 1,06,713 Children with Special Needs (CWSN) in the age group of 6-14 years
in Gujarat. Out of this, 92,633 are enrolled in schools.

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Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Gujarat

BaLA Project – Assessment Report

Under BaLA project, the concept of i-BaLA (or inclusive-BaLA), is implemented by

Physiotherapy, Psychotherapy, Speech therapy and other children related therapies

 Aids and Appliances

 CwSN Students’ Enrolment

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