With a view to achieve the goal of universalisation of secondary education (USE) in the state, The Punjab Government is ahead in the implementation of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan scheme (RSMA) aimed at expanding and improving the standards of secondary education for classes VIII to X by ensuring a secondary school within a radius of 5 km for every neighborhood. Disclosing this here today Education Minister Punjab Sikandar Singh Maluka said that under the RMSA, the Education department has upgraded 222 middle schools to secondary schools in deficit areas of the state with a vision to make good quality education available, accessible and affordable to all students in the age group of 14-18 years. “This project is for the bright future and careers of the children visualizing attainment of 75% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by 2012-13 and 100% GER by 2016-17 ensuring universal access of secondary education by 2017 and universal retention by 2020, added Maluka.Maluka said that the Punjab State was included in the four states approved by the Central Government for the year 2012-2013 to implement RMSA. “For this the state government would spend Rs. 369 crore to provide inputs in terms of additional classrooms, teachers and other facilities in these upgraded schools to meet the challenges, he added.The Minister expressed said that after successful implementation of this centrally sponsored scheme by five years, the State Government would continue all the upgraded schools in the state. Allying the apprehension of privatization of RMSA schools, he categorically said that it was the responsibility of the State to provide education to the educationally backward and economically weaker sections including other marginalized categories of the society especially the girls and disabled children residing in rural areas.