Lok Sabha Question No. 3818 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Corruption in Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VIKRAM USENDI

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION ANDLITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3818 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th MARCH, 2018

## Corruption in Education

## † 3818.SHRI VIKRAM USENDI:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the standard of Primary education in Government schools has been declining continuously and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   whether the Government is aware of the alleged rampant corruption at other various levels of primary school education and in various States of the country including Chhattisgarh;
- (c)   if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard;
- (d)  whether the Government proposes to setup any regulatory system for monitoring the education system; and
- (e)   if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OFHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)  to  (e):The  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT) conducts periodic national surveys of learning achievement of children in classes III, V &VIII. Four rounds of National Achievement Survey (NAS) have been conducted so far for class V. These surveys reveal improvement in learning achievement levels of  pupils,  in  identified  subjects  from  first  round  to  fourth  round.  Further,  a  National Achievement  Survey  based  on  learning  outcomes  has  been  conducted  on  13th November,  2017  with  a  sample  frame  upto  district  level  to  enable  states/UTs  to identify gaps in learning outcomes at district level and design strategies to address those gaps. District reports are available along with learning gaps for each district.

In  order  to  focus  on  quality  education,  the  Central  rules  to  the  Right  of Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act  have  been  amended  to include  reference  on  class-wise,  subject-wise  Learning  Outcomes.  The  Learning Outcomes  for  each  class  in  Languages  (Hindi,  English  and  Urdu),  Mathematics, Environmental  Studies,  Science  and  Social  Science  up  to  the  elementary  stage have, accordingly, been finalized and shared with all States and UTs. These would serve as a guideline for State and UTs to ensure that all children acquire appropriate learning  level.  Government  has  also  introduced  a  bill  to  amend  RTE  Act,  2009  to allow  states  the  option  of  deciding  regarding  detention  at  Class  V  or  Class  VIII  or neither.

Further, Section 23(2) of the RTE Act has been amended to extend the period for training of untrained in-service elementary teachers to 31st March, 2019. As per above  amendment,  all  untrained in-service teachers working in  Government, Government aided and Private un-aided schools should acquire minimum qualification  as  laid  down  by  an  academic  authority,  authorized  by  the  Central Government, by 31st March, 2019. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has been entrusted to conduct this training through ODL (Open Distance Learning) mode. The online D.El.Ed. course has already been started from 3rd October, 2017.

In  addition  to  above,  the  Central  Government,  supports  States  and  UTs  on early grade reading, writing and comprehension, and early Mathematics programmes through a sub-programme of SSA namely 'Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat' (PBBB). Further, the Government has launched Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyan(RAA) programme on 09.07.2015, inter alia, as a sub-component of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA),  to motivate  and  engage children of the age group from 6-18 years in Science, Mathematics and Technology through  observation,  experimentation,  inference  drawing,  model  building,  etc.  both through inside and outside classroom activities.

The Central Government has an in-built robust monitoring process of Sarva Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA).   In  the SSA  framework,  different  components  have  been elaborated  with  specific  indicators.  Monitoring  is  done  with  respect  to  the  given indicators  under  the  framework. Further, Government  of  India  has  laid  down  a Financial  &  Procurement  Manual  for  the  programme  to  streamline  the  financial management  system  and  provide  for  an  annual  audit  by  Chartered  Accountants empanelled  with  the  Comptroller  and  Auditor  General  (CAG)  of  India  and  also  a system of concurrent financial reviews. Independent monitoring institutions conduct field  level  monitoring  and  there  is  a  system  of independent Joint Review Missions. Component wise quarterly reviews, an annual Educational Management Information System (EMIS) and regular meetings are held with State officials to ensure effective implementation  of  the  programme.  The  States Governments are  advised  to  check the  irregularities  in  the  execution  of  the  SSA  programme  and  to  take  appropriate corrective action.

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