Gandhinagar, Mar 15 (UNI) The Central Government has taken note of the State government's efforts under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSY) in providing quality education and secondary facilities like building new schools, Anandiben Patel said in the Legislative Assembly today.

In reply to the budgetary demands of her ministry, she said that the State government has made a provision of Rs 70 crore for the SSY. Primary schools would be benefited under this scheme.

She said biometric attendance register has been proposed as a pilot project at a cost of Rs 150 lakh to improve attendance in schools located in backward and remote areas like Narmada district.

She said English language training would be given to youths between the age of 15 and 35 years at the 1,000 centers set up across the State for the same. This will help them get jobs. In this, five lakh persons would be given 20 days training by international certificate course issuing agencies, Ms Patel said.

She said the number of colleges in the State had increased. She said earlier 90 colleges had 13,185 seats and now there are 241 colleges offering 40,884 seats. This would help students to opt for the college and degree their choice.

UNI