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In an effort to ensure relevant education for all and to universalize elementary education of satisfactory quality, proper planning and management is required at various levels. In view of the magnitude and nature of problems witnessed in today’s society in general and in the field of education in particular, the need for capacity building and resource mobilization cannot be overemphasized. The emerging changes and challenges in the field of education can no longer be dealt with in isolation. It is, thus, necessary to adopt convergent approach through proper planning and coordination of various categories of administrative and field functionaries.

In Mizoram, SCERT was set up in 1980 with a view to undertake measures for qualitative improvement in schools, teacher education and non-formal education. In addition, it has to –

·                      Arrange in-service training of teachers and orientation programmes for the education officers dealing with elementary, secondary levels.

·                      Act as nodal agency for all educational programmes and schemes as and when entrusted the task

·                      Develop curricula, instructional material etc. for schools

·                      Conduct studies on various problems

·                      Function as advisory agency for planning, management and implementation of all educational programmes within the ambit of school education and teacher-education. Though the role of SCERT is quite encouraging in certain areas like teachers education, IEDC, etc., it is felt urgently needed to establish state level institution to deal with educational planning, management and training for various levels of functionaries.

STATE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL

MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING (SIEMAT)

As provided under DPEP, the provision for SIEMAT is also incorporated in the state component programme of SSA. SIEMAT is an institute designed to develop the capacity of all categories of administrative and field functionaries – down to the village levels to efficiently manage educational institutions and to provide the professional support required by them In the context of SSA, the trust of SIEMAT would essentially include –

·                operationalization of the concept of decentralized planning and management through the development of training packages for its various clientele groups;

·                conducting programmes which could ensure enrolment, retention and learning achievement of elementary school children through district, cluster and village based strategies and;

·                motivation and sensitization of functionaries as required for the various steps of UEE.

In Mizoram, there is no institute for educational planning, administration, and management training. Though the need for establishment of such premiere institute has been felt since long time back, it could not be materialized due to paucity of fund.

AIMS &OBJECTIVES OF SIEMAT

The major objective of SIEMAT are:-

·                To ensure school effectiveness through the development of local level and school level management capacities.

·                To provide resource support in the area of planning and management, to the field functionaries like DPCs, SDEOs, CEOs, Coordinators, Block level Resource Persons, members of VECs, Headmaster of Elementary Schools, VEC Secretaries, VEC Treasurers, faculty members of DIETs, District and Sub-District Project Offices of SSA and SCERT faculty members.

·                To establish linkages with different agencies and institutions both government and non-government engaged in various welfare programmes and education

·                To strengthen educational data-base for decentralized planning and management and

·                To give advice and guidance to various levels of functionaries in planning and management for education if and when necessary.

·                To undertake case studies and research activities pertaining to educational management and school organization and problems relating to schools.

management structure & staffing pattern

After proper assessment of existing capacities of the department, the management structure and staffing pattern has been planned. Due emphasis has been given to the principle of convergency, sustainability and quality with consideration of economical and cost effective structure and management of the institute.

In consonant with the Mizoram SSA Rajya Mission  Rules, 2001, the following management structures are responsible for establishment, proper running and operationalisation of SIEMAT.

Management Structure

1.                   SSA Governing Body – In this body, the Chief Minister is the President and Education Secretary is the Member Secretary.

2.                   SSA Executive Committee – The Committee consist of the Chief Secretary as the Chairman and State Project Director as Member Secretary respectively.

3.                   SIEMAT Management Board – Commissioner and Secretary, School Education Department is the Chairman and Jt. Director, SCERT is the Member Secretary of SIEMAT Management Board.

Staffing pattern of SIEMAT is designed to ensure economic and cost effective functioning of the premiere Institute. The following chart depicts the hierarchical set-up :-

Hierarchical Structure of SIEMAT

As seen in the above chart, incumbency of SIEMAT is designed to be minimum requirement. For the training purposes, it is intended to hiring of services of highly qualified personnel from premiere institutes/consultancy firms of great reputation. This will make the SIEMAT free of permanent liabilities on the part of the Government of Mizoram and at the same time better and relevant training will be imparted to the target groups through ‘outsourcing of the required skills’. Further, hiring system will make the SIEMAT more adaptive, dynamic and context specific as there will be wide scope for changes in the courses as well as personnel employed.

TARGETS

                 The target groups/beneficiaries of SIEMAT includes :-

i.               All administrative and field functionaries of the Department.

ii.              SCERT faculty members, DIET faculty , College of Teachers Education faculty within Mizoram.

iii.            Heads of Institutes, Principals, VEC members, NGO leaders etc.

·          All these functionaries will undergo training and workshops according to their needs. Context specific subject and programmes will be organized according to requirements.

·          State of the art buildings and other infrastructure will be in place with latest facilities.

·          Highly expert and qualified faculty will give training on latest information, skills, technologies etc on the field of management and educational planning etc.

·          Necessary coordination and convergence will be made with other agencies as well.

PROGRESS & ACHIEVEMENT

Project Approval Board for Mizoram for the year 2006-07,in its eighty first meeting held on the 12th April 2006 approved the proposal for  Rs .10.98 lakhs for the implementation of SIEMAT in the state. Break up of the fund utilized as per approved is in annex.

In the process of its implementation, the State Education Department and the State Project Office of SSA Mission had taken a series of steps listed below:

Management Board and Programme Committee were established by the Government of Mizoram Vide No B 14011/10/2006-EDN Dated 29^th May 2006 comprising of the following members:

Management Board of SIEMAT, Mizoram.

Secretary,School Education Deptt.                                      :           Chairman

Director, School Education                                                    :           Member

State Project Director SSA Mission                                      :           Member

Director/Representative NIEPA                                            :           Member

Jt. Director SCERT Mizoram                                                  :           Member Secretary

Dy .Director SCERT                                                                :           Co-opted member

Programme  Committee

Joint Director, SCERT                                                            :           Chairman

Addl. State Project Director SSA                                           :           Member

Representive of Deptt. of Edn. MZU                                     :           Member

Programme Officer, SCERT                                                  :           Member  Secretary

The Government of Mizoram appointed Ms. Zothanmawii Deputy Director, SCERT as programme officer of SIEMAT WING, SCERT vide memo No. B-14011/10/2006-EDN: Dated 25^th September, 2006.

A meeting was held in the office chamber of the Hon’ble Minister School Education on the 28^th March 2006 which was attended by all the members of the Management Board and Programme Committee in which  it was formally decided that SIEMAT will function as one of the Wings in SCERT under the administration of Joint Director SCERT  with a minimum new recruit man power in view of sustainability of the institution. It was also decided in the meeting that Resource persons for various training will be outsourced to reduce the over all budget of SIEMAT (Meeting Minute is annexed)

Another Meeting of Management Board was held in the office chamber of the Commissioner, School Education on the 17^th August 2006 in which Dr Premilla Menon, Representative of Director, NIEPA had given a brief highlight of the expected set up of SIEMAT in the light of her experience in other states and NIEPA.

The Meeting discussed and the following decisions were made :

·          SIEMAT will be started in the form of Mini SIEMAT located at the  SCERT and it will function as one of the department of SCERT and will address the Planning and Management requirements of the State at District and Sub District levels.

·          In order to make SIEMAT fully operational, it was felt that the funds currently allocated to the SPO, need to be further streamlined to reach the SCERT which will be the Nodal Agency for implementing SIEMAT. In this connection the Secretary agreed to convene a meeting of all the members shortly to further workout the possibility of the transfer of fund.

·          All future proposals for SIEMAT may be placed for funding through the Annual Work Plan and Budget  as SIEMAT continues to be funded through the norms of SSA.

·          On complete utilization of the Rs. 3 crores, the state may work out the recurring expenses for SIEMAT separately.

·          The issue of sustainability of SIEMAT was discussed at length and it was agreed that both in terms of manpower and streamlining of funds at a later stage, the State would work out towards Institutionalisation of SIEMAT.

·          NIEPA support in strengthening the implementation of SIEMAT in the State was also ensured. (Detail proceeding of meeting is annexed)

IMPLEMENTATION OF SIEMAT 2006-2007.

1.       As per recommendation of the Management Board, the SIEMAT Mizoram functions with the following man power:

Ms. Sangthanmawii, Joint Director, SCERT

Ms. Zothanmawii Programme Officer SIEMAT

Mr. JK Samuela, Accountant

Mr. Laldinmawia Data Entry Operator

Mr. MC Lalfela, Despatch Raider

Mr. Sangzuala IV Grade

2.       Joint Bank account No 30089512978 in the State Bank of India, Dawrpui branch was operated in the name of the Education Commissioner and Programme Officer, SIEMAT in which all the approved budget sanctioned were transferred  from the State Project Office of SSA Mission Mizoram.

3.       Orientation training for KEY RESOURCE PERSONS  of DIET for 3 days was conducted.

4.       Training of 22 BRC Coordinators for 2 days was conducted.

5.       Training of 159 CRC Coordinators for 2 days was conducted.

6.       Orientation training of SIEMAT personnel on duties and responsibilities of SIEMAT was conducted.

7.       Equipment for Training Hall and furniture for office staff were procured.

ProposED PROGRaMME OF ACTIVITIES  for 2007-08

Activities to be undertaken during the current year 2007-08 include the following :

1. Training of key Resource persons of 8 Districts in IED (Special Educator)

2. Training on Financial Management for Account staff of State Project Office and Accountant of all districts.

3. Training of District Project Co-ordinators on Project Management, Programme Implementation and quality related issue.

4. Refresher training for District Education Officer, Sub-Divisional Educational Officer, Circle Education Officer.

5. Refresher course for 8 Principal and 8 Vice-Principal of DIET in the state.

6. Capacity building in Upper Primary School Headmaster for 40 selected Headmaster (5 from each district).

7. Capacity building in Primary School Headmaster for 40 selected Headmaster (5 from each district).

8. Workshop for Co-ordinator of various interventions.

9. Refresher course for BRCC and CRCC.

10.          Workshop on convergence with total sanitation campaign, National Rural Health Mission, Mid-day Meal, School Health Programme, ARWSP etc.