As many as 8,663 new secondary schools and 46,280 toilets in schools have been constructed in different parts of the country till March 31 under the centrally-sponsored Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said under the RMSA till 2017-18 and Samagra Shiksha effective from2018 -19,12,896 new secondary schools, 53,789 additional classrooms, 66,286toilets and 11,933drinking water facilities in schools have been sanctioned.

Out of these, states and UTs have reported that 12,100 new schools have become functional and construction of 8,663 new schools, 37,546 additional classrooms, 46,280 toilets and provision of drinking water facility in 10,093schools has been done till March 31, 2019, he said during Question Hour.

Besides, Pokhriyal said, approval has been given for up- gradation of 44 secondary schools to senior secondary and introduction of a new stream in 851 senior secondary schools under Samagra Shiksha in 2018-19.

The RMSA was under implementation from 2009 to 2017-18 for universalizing secondary education in the country.

The RMSA program provided a number of incentives to encourage enrolment and retention of children in schools as well as for the improvement of quality of education.

These included enhancing access to secondary schools, strengthening school infrastructures like school building, additional classrooms, laboratories, libraries, arts, and craft rooms, toilets, drinking water facilities, etc, the minister said.