Lok Sabha Question No. 5559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-02
Subject: Study of Science subjects
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5559 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2018

## Study of Science subjects

## 5559. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

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

- (a)    whether it is a fact that students for higher secondary education are shying away from taking science subjects for not having proper knowledge on maths and other science subjects in lower classes and also a shortage of teachers and lack of activity-based learning in schools thereof;
- (b)    if so, the reaction of the Government thereto along with the details of the vacancies of teachers, State/UT-wise; and
- (c)    the details of the proposal of the Government to appoint dedicated good teachers in all schools for all classes in the country therein?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) No Madam, as per the  Unified  District  Information  System  on  Education  (UDISE) 2015-16,  there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  enrollment  of  students  in  science  subjects  at  higher secondary  level  from  62.18  lakh  in  2014-15  to  79.52  lakh  in  2015-16.  Further  as  per  the information provided by States/UTs   in their Annual Work Plan & Budget 2017-18 proposal under Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA),  only  15.70%  of  teaching  posts  are  vacant  at secondary level. The State/UT wise details of vacant post at secondary level is at Annexure .

The Centrally  sponsored  scheme  of  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA) envisages  universalizing  access  to  secondary  schools  by  providing  a  secondary  school  within  a reasonable  distance  (5  kilometer)  of  every  habitation,  improving  quality  of  education  through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms and removal of gender, socio-economic and disability barriers. Under the scheme, there is a provision of appointment of 1 Head Teacher and  5  Teachers  (2  language  teacher,  1  science  teacher,  1  social  science  and  1  math  teacher)for every  new/upgraded  secondary  school  and  Additional  teacher to  improve  pupil  teacher  ratio. However,  the  recruitment  and  service  conditions  of  Government  teachers  are  primarily  in  the domain of respective State governments and UT Administration.

The  Ministry regularly  emphasises  on  filling  up  vacant  posts of  teachers  by  States/UTs  in various review meetings, State Education Secretaries conference, Joint Review Missions (JRM) etc.

The Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  has  also  in  2015  launched  the  Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA), a convergent framework across School Education and Higher Education to encourage children towards learning Science and Mathematics and to develop their interest through activities related to Science and Mathematics. One of the interventions under RAA is  strengthening  of Science  and  Mathematics  laboratories  in  schools,  through  the  Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA).  Also  other  interventions such  as Science  Fair/Exhibition and  Talent  Search  at  district  level;  mathematics  and  science  kits  to  schools,  visit  to  higher institutions of students and learning enhancement of students are also approved.

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Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5559 for  answer  on  02.04.2018  regarding  'Study  of  Science  subjects'  asked  by  Shri  Sisir Kumar Adhikari.

The State/UT wise details of vacant post at secondary level

| Sl No.   | State/UT                 | Vacant in%   |
|----------|--------------------------|--------------|
| 1        | Andaman &Nicobar Islands | 0            |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh        | 0            |
| 3        | Andhra Pradesh           | 12.762       |
| 4        | Assam                    | 10.803       |
| 5        | Bihar                    | 35.392       |
| 6        | Chandigarh               | NA           |
| 7        | Chhattisgarh             | 29.43        |
| 8        | Dadar& Nagar Haveli      | 0.58         |
| 9        | Daman &Diu               | 0.00         |
| 10       | Delhi                    | 14.44        |
| 11       | Goa                      | 25.23        |
| 12       | Gujarat                  | 29.16        |
| 13       | Haryana                  | 5.21         |
| 14       | Himachal Pradesh         | 6.63         |
| 15       | Jharkhand                | 82.71        |
| 16       | Jammu& Kashmir           | 20.18        |
| 17       | Karnataka                | 11.53        |
| 18       | Kerala                   | 17.01        |
| 19       | Lakshadweep              | 40.45        |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh           | 16.82        |
| 21       | Maharashtra              | 16.46        |
| 22       | Meghalaya                | 0.00         |
| 23       | Manipur                  | 2.63         |
| 24       | Mizoram                  | 0.00         |
| 25       | Nagaland                 | 12.55        |
| 26       | Odisha                   | 3.54         |
| 27       | Puducherry               | 21.23        |
| 28       | Punjab                   | 13.16        |
| 29       | Rajasthan                | 0.00         |
| 30       | Sikkim                   | 1.87         |
| 31       | Tamil Nadu               | 1.27         |
| 32       | Telangana                | 8.64         |
| 33       | Tripura                  | 17.07        |
| 34       | Uttar Pradesh            | 47.33        |
| 35       | Uttarakhnad              | 19.03        |
| 36       | West Bengal              | 6.25         |
|          | Total                    | 15.70        |

Sources: AWP&B-2017-18 (Model Table-12)