Lok Sabha Question No. 423 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Space Related Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 423 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018

## Space Related Education

## *423.  SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

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

- (a) whether  school  students  normally  do  not  evince  much  interest  in  aeronautics, astrophysics, astronomy and other space education subjects;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  careers  in  these  subjects  among  the middle and secondary school level students in the country; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  initiatives  taken  to  promote  space  related education at school level?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  423  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  26.03.2018  ASKED  BY SHRI  KAPIL  MORESHWAR  PATIL,  MP  REGARDING  'SPACE  RELATED EDUCATION'.

(a) & (b) Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has not conducted any survey about  students  showing  interest  in  Aeronautics,  Astrophysics,  Astronomy  and  other  space education subjects as these are highly specialized subjects offered by the universities in postgraduate classes and in engineering based courses. However, the curriculum prescribed by the CBSE adequately inspires students for studying physics and engineering courses including Aeronautics, Astrophysics, Astronomy and other space education subjects.

(c) & (d) CBSE has taken a number of steps to arouse interest in the subject of Science at middle and secondary school stage which may lead to promote careers in these subjects in later life. Some of the steps taken are as follows:

-  The Board has brought out supplementary material, namely, 'Science is Doing' for Class VII, 'Learning by Doing' for Class VI and Class VIII to encourage activity based teaching learning processes in the classroom.
-  Greater weightage has been assigned to practical work in Science at Secondary stage.
-  To  ensure  seriousness  and  sincerity  in  Science  practical  work,  assessment  of  practical skills through written examinations has been made an integral part of assessment scheme.
-  To promote creativity and innovativeness in the learners, Regional level and National level Science exhibitions are organized by the Board for CBSE affiliated schools every year.

National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) has incorporated age appropriate space related contents at various places in Science and Social Science textbooks of various classes from VI to XII.

In  order  to  make  science  education  interesting  for  children,  Ministry  of  Human Resource Development has launched a Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyaan, which emphasizes on making science popular among children. It seeks to create curiosity, excitement and a spirit of innovation and exploration amongst school children in the study of Science and Mathematics.