“Every School should constitute a school management committee (SMC), within one month of starting of the academic year,” directed the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday.
According to the new guidelines released by Pradhan, states have been advised to have SMC in every school including secondary schools till Class 12.
The intent behind the guidelines is to promote active community participation in the better functioning of schools.
SMC will monitor the condition and activities of hostels in school premises and it has been tasked with overseeing all schemes in school like Samagra Shiksha, PM POSHAN, ULLAS, PM SHRI. It will be responsible for preparing and recommending a comprehensive School Development Plan (SDP) by identifying gaps in infrastructure, surveying existing facilities, and addressing the specific needs of the school.
“Enhancing the competency of children is a major concern. SMCs are not a new concept but have evolved over time and remain central to improving learning outcomes and governance in schools,” Pradhan said.
The SMC is also responsible for preparing and recommending a comprehensive school development plan by identifying gaps in infrastructure, surveying existing facilities, and addressing the specific needs of the school.
While the committee will include officials, representatives of local authorities, academicians, parents with 75 per cent of the strength of the SMC will be the driver of the committee.
“50 per cent of the strength of the SMC shall be women. Proportionate representation shall be given to the parents or guardians of children belonging to socio economically disadvantaged groups and children with special needs,” the guidelines said.
The term of the members of the SMC will be for two years and the process of constitution of the new committee should be started before the completion of the tenure of the committee so that there is no discontinuity.
