Context: The NITI Aayog recently recommended that India should merge small, sub-scale, and low-enrolment schools with nearby ones and rationalize teacher recruitment to optimize its learning outcomes, as outlined in its outcome report on the Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E).

Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E)

• Launched: In 2017
• Objective: To identify and build three ‘role model’ States for the school education sector. 
• States Cover: After an elaborate selection process, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh were chosen.
• Aim: To revolutionize primary and secondary school education through purposeful initiatives and establish states that serve as exemplary models in the field of education.

Key Findings

• According to the report, India has five times the schools of China for equivalent enrollment, with over 50% of primary schools in several states having less than 60 students.
• In collaboration with the NITI Aayog, Jharkhand merged 4,380 schools, resulting in savings of Rs 400 crore.

Suggestions from NITI Ayog

• The NITI Aayog has suggested states decentralise powers to principals, and district and block officers for improving governance.
• The states can also develop a set of large schools with at least 10-20 per cent spread across the state.
• The report suggested school mergers as a solution to addressing the lack  of enrollments in schools.