Lok Sabha Question No. 5586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-02
Subject: SDGs on Standard of Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5586 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2018

## SDGs on Standard of Education

5586. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  step  to  meet  the  Sustainable  Development  Goals (SDGs) on ensuring quality and standard education in the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the details of fund allotted and utilized during the last three years to achieve SDGs in the field of education in the country; and
- (c) the reasons for unutilized allocated funds during the said period?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCEDEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)  to  (c)  The  Goal-4  of  Sustainable  Development  Goals  is  to  ensure  inclusive  and  equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities  for all. The major emphasis is on access, equity and quality of education. All the major schemes of the Ministry viz. SarvaShikshaAbhiyaan  (SSA),  RashtriyaMadhyamikshikshaAbhiyaan  (RMSA),  Mid-Day  Meal (MDM)  Scheme,  Shakshar  Bharat  and  RashtrityaUcchatarShikshaAbhiyaan  (RUSA)  are  being implemented with the objectives of development of educational Infrastructure, emphasis on equal opportunities for all and ensuring quality & standard of education.A number of corrective steps have been taken by the Government to further improve the quality of education in the country. Some important measures are:

- I. Focusing  on  quality  education,  the  Central  RTE  Rules  have  been  amended  on 20 th February, 2017 to include reference on class-wise, subject-wise Learning Outcomes. These would serve as a guideline for States and UTs to ensure that all children acquire appropriate learning level. For the first time in November, 2017 National Achievement Surveys  (NAS)  was  conducted  for  classes  III,  V  and  VIII  to  assess  the  learning outcomes of students in government and government aided schools on all subjects.
- II. The  RTE  Act,  2009  was  amended  in  2017  to  ensure  that  all  teachers  acquire  the minimum  qualifications  prescribed  under  the  Act  by  31st  March,  2019.  This  would ensure an improvement in the overall quality of teachers and teaching processes, and consequently  learning  outcomes  of  children.  Further,  it  reinforces  the  Government's emphasis on improvement of quality of elementary education.
- III. The Department is placing a lot of emphasis on the development and provision of econtent for students and also training of teachers, head masters and Principals.
- IV. Government is implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namely RashtriyaUchatterShikshaAbhiyaan (RUSA) with the aim of promoting access, equity and quality in higher education. Under RUSA, inter-alia, central assistance is provided to  States  for  creation  of  model  degree  colleges,  infrastructure  grants  to  colleges  and Universities, creation of Universities either through up gradationof existing autonomous colleges or clustering of colleges. Further, Higher Education FinancingAgency (HEFA) has been set up by the Government to mobilize funds from the market as perrequirements of the centrally funded higher educational institutions.
- V. The University  Grants  Commission (UGC) has been constantly striving to develop  a system of higher education of quality, appropriate to the national needs and aspirations and in tune with global trends. The Commission is committed to constant improvement of the quality of higher education and defining excellence in the processes of teaching, learning  and  research.  In  order  to  ensure  quality  of  higher  education  is  further streamlined, UGC has notified a number of regulations which are mandatory for every institution of higher education across the country.

Details of funds released and utilized under various schemes of Department of School Education & Literacy for the last 3 years is given in tablebelow:

Scheme -wise funds released and utilized during last 3 years (Rs. In Crore)

| Sr. No.   | Name of Scheme                             | 2014-15       | 2014-15       | 2015-16       | 2015-16       | 2016-17       | 2016-17       |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Sr. No.   | Name of Scheme                             | Fund Released | Fund Utilized | Fund Released | Fund Utilized | Fund Released | Fund Utilized |
| 1         | SarvaShikshaAbhiyan - SSA                  | 24030.16      | 24122.51      | 21590.14      | 21666.52      | 21657.45      | 21678.47      |
| 2         | Mid-Day Meal- MDM                          | 10465.21      | 11316.28      | 9132.31       | 9912.21       | 9478.61       | 9301.51       |
| 3         | RashtriyaMadhyamik ShikshaAbhiyan - RMSA $ | 3389.73       | 5407.33       | 3544.93       | 6878.67       | 3688.27       | 7712.79       |
| 4         | Saakshar Bharat (Adult Education)          | 358.34        | 358.34        | 344.13        | 344.13        | 213.41        | 213.41        |

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