Lok Sabha Question No. 1311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-10
Subject: Scheme to Improve Quality of Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Uday Pratap Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1311 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2020

## Scheme to Improve Quality of Education

## † 1311. SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  or  proposes  to  formulate  any  scheme  to  improve quality of education and to bring it at par with international educational institutes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has finalized the new education policy as well as the task to impart education through digital means;
- (d) if so, the details along with the salient features thereof;
- (e) whether any time limit has been fixed for presentation of report by the expert committee;
- (f) if so, the details thereof;
- (g)  the  time by  which  the  said  scheme  is  likely  to be  implemented  along  with  the  total  amount allocated or likely to be allocated in this regard; and
- (h) the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) and (b): Improving the quality of education across all levels from primary to university level is a  continuous  and  ongoing  process.  Several  initiatives  are  currently  being  undertaken  in  this direction. The Samagra Shiksha, an integral scheme for School Education as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme  is  being  implemented  throughout  the  country  with  effect  from  the  year  2018-19.  This programme subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha (RSMA) and Teacher Education (TE). It is an overarching programme for  the  school  education  sector  extending  from  pre-school  to  class  XII  and  aims  to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education. It envisages the 'school' as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper primary, secondary to senior secondary levels.

In higher education also, various schemes, namely, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA),  Scheme  for  promotion  of  Academic  and  Research  Collaboration  (SPARC),  Global Initiative  for  Academics  Network  (GIAN),  Impacting  Research,  Innovation  &  Technology (IMPRINT),  Technical  Education  Quality  Improvement  Programme  (TEQIP),  Pandit  Madan Mohan Malaviya National  Mission  on  Teachers  and  Teaching  (PMMMNMTT),  Study  Webs of Active-Learning  for  Young  Aspiring  Minds  (SWAYAM),  National  Digital  Library,  campus connect programme, Uchhatar Avishkar Abhiyan, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Impactful Research in Social Sciences (IMPRESS), Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA), National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are being implemented to improve the quality of higher education. A number of initiatives are also undertaken by UGC and AICTE for quality improvement in higher and technical education.

(c) to (h): Currently, The Government is in the process of formulating a new National Education Policy for meeting the changing dynamics of the population's requirement with regard to quality education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping its students with the necessary skills and knowledge and to eliminate the shortage of manpower in science,  technology,  arts  and  industry.  For  this  purpose,  it  carried  out  a  highly  participative, inclusive and multi-pronged consultation process, through online, grassroots and thematic expert consultations. The Committee for the Draft National Education Policy under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan submitted its report to the Ministry on 31 st May 2019. There has been wide publicity  and positive feedback  from  all  stakeholders. More  than  2  lakhs  suggestions  and  inputs have been received on the Draft National Education Policy, 2019. Accordingly, Ministry is in the process of finalizing the National Education Policy, 2020. At this stage, it is premature to highlight the salient features of the proposed National Education Policy.

The  requirement  of  funds  would  be  estimated  after  finalisation  of  the  Policy.  Government  is committed to implement the Policy by making suitable budgetary allocations.

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