What Is REI?

The Rajasthan Education Initiative (REI), launched 2005, has evolved as an inspiring model of Public-Private Partnership in the field of education. The REI transcends the boundaries of technology in an attempt to improve learning skills on the one hand, while assisting the community and society at large as they achieve holistic development of the children of the state of Rajasthan.

The REI, driven by the State Government and supported by the activities of the core partners, namely the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), focuses on girls, rural children, urban underprivileged children, and children with special needs, through various ICT and non-ICT track interventions. 

The REI has significantly contributed to the fulfillment of SSA goals and different facets of educational development in Rajasthan, including widening access, promoting efficiency, enhancing the quality of learning and teaching and improving infrastructure and management systems.

The REI has engaged with global and national partners from the private sector, foundations and NGOs by signing 26 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various organisations since the launch of the REI.

Educational Scenario in Rajasthan

Rajasthan has attained impressive results in enhancing the reach and quality of education by focusing on improving the delivery and management of education services in the state. In the past few years, determined efforts have been made to provide access to schools for all children, to fill teacher vacancies and to raise the public expenditure on education, which places Rajasthan amongst the top ranking states at the national level.

The main focus of Rajasthan‘s educational objectives is Access – 100% enrollment in primary education by 2010, 100% enrollment in secondary education by 2020.

• Retention – increase numbers finishing primary school to 100% by 2010 and for secondary to considerable higher levels.
• Girls’ Education – increase access and retention of girls in primary to near 100% levels and in secondary to levels that will enable them lead productive lives with employment opportunities.
• Learning Achievement – increase quality of learning, especially in areas of Maths, Science and English.
• Empowering for a Global Knowledge Economy – expanding curriculum to provide ICT skills to secondary school students and to enable formation of human capital for the economy.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the flagship programme of the Government of India to attain the objective of Universal Elementary Education (for children in the age group of 6-14 years) in the country by 2010, was launched in Rajasthan in the year 2001-02 and since then efforts have been made to achieve Universal Elementary Education (UEE) in the state. All 32 districts of Rajasthan have been covered under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. 

The State Government has addressed the needs of girls, out-of-school/never-enrolled children, drop outs, children with special needs and children from SC/ST and other disadvantaged sections of society, through different educational interventions; Alternative Schools, Evening Schools, Bridge Courses, Shiksha Mitra Kendras, Mobile Schools and other remedial teaching centres.

An indication of the progress made in education in Rajasthan can be derived from the data below:

Source : Shiksha Ki Pragati, Director, Elementary Education, Bikaner:

Rajasthan has recorded the highest percentage increase in literacy rate among Indian States. The latest statistics provided by the Census of India 2001 show that the rate of improvement has been faster in Rajasthan than in many other states.

Significantly, the male literacy (76.46%) in Rajasthan in year 2001 is higher than the all-India average of 75.85%. The number of literates aged seven and above has risen by 22.48 per cent in Rajasthan against an all-India increase of 13.17 per cent. Its literacy rate has jumped to 61.03 per cent in 2001 from 38.55 in 1991.

Literacy Percentage 1991 and 2001

Organizational Structure

Organizational Structure of Elementary Education in Rajasthan