Published Paper Details:

A new scheme has been introduced by the Union Government in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2007 for strengthening of education among scheduled tribe (ST) girls in low literacy districts. The programme aims at establishment of Educational Complexes in villages inhabited by particularly vulnerable tribal groups. The scheme aims at to bridge the gap in literacy level between the general female population and tribal women, through facilitating 100% enrolment of tribal girls in the identified District or Blocks, more particularly in naxal affected areas and in areas inhabited by particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), and reducing drop-outs at the elementary level by creating the required ambience for education. Improvement of the literacy rate of tribal girls is essential to enable them to participate effectively in and benefit from, socio- economic development. The investigator tried to explore quality of school climate in relation to academic environment, physical environment and safety facilities in three educational complexes of Keonjhar and Malkangiri districts. The findings of the study are: Overall teaching-learning process is satisfactory in EC, Upperkusumita, EC, Gonasika and EC, Nandiniguda except in the areas of preparation of academic calendar, splitting up syllabus and preparation of lesson plan/note. physical environment of the study areas is satisfactory as per the guideline of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India (2007). Safety facilities in the educational complexes are adequate. Qualified teachers with adequate pay scale need to appointed as per the guideline of Ministry of Tribal affairs, Government of India and ST & SC Development Department, Government of Odisha.