Lok Sabha Question No. 3427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-09
Subject: Primary Education of Tribal Children
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Manoj Rajoria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3427

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2019

## PRIMARY EDUCATION OF TRIBAL CHILDREN

3427. DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to ensure primary education for the tribal children in their mother tongue;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  the  student  enrolment  and  student  retention  ratios  in  tribal districts especially in primary and secondary levels;
- (d) whether the  Government proposes to  take any  steps to  raise  the  cadre  of teachers from the local tribal youth to enhance  the teacher student responsiveness and employment opportunities; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

(a) & (b): Section  29  (2)  (f)  of  the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 states that 'medium of instruction shall, as far as practicable, be  in  child's  mother  tongue'.  The  National  Curriculum  Framework  (NCF),  2005 emphasizes the importance of imparting primary education in the mother tongue of the child.  Since  education  is  in  the  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution,  States  have  the liberty to  decide the medium of instruction in schools. The NCF clearly states that the Three-Language Formula is an attempt to address the challenges and opportunities of the linguistic situation in India. As per the 'Three Language Formula' the first language to be studied must be the mother tongue or the regional language.

MoTA extends support to State Governments / UTs for mother tongue-based education and  development  of  bilingual  Primers  for  enhancement  of  learning  achievement  level amongst  the  Scheduled  Tribe  Students.  So  far  82  language  primers  have  been developed by various State Governments as detailed below:

| State          | Primers Details   | Language / tribe covered                                                   |
|----------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tripura        | 14 Primers        | Kokborak, halam, Mog, Garo, Kuki, Mizo                                     |
| Odisha         | 5 Primers         | Juang, Kisan, Koya, Oram, Saora                                            |
| Maharashtra    | 11 Primers        | Gondi, Halbi, Kokni, Kolami, Korku, Madiya, Mavchi, Pardhi, Pawari, Thakri |
| Madhya Pradesh | 15 Primers        | Halbi, Kudhukh, Bhili, Gondi, Korku,                                       |
| Kerala         | 6 Primers         | Kattunaikan, Paniyan                                                       |
| Chhattisgarh   | 5 Primers         | Kukudu, Praja, Halbi, Bharia                                               |
| Jharkhand      | 5 Primers         | Kukudu, Khadia, Khorat                                                     |
| Telangana      | 5 Primers         | Gondi, Koya, Kolami, Kondh, Banjara                                        |
| West Bengal    | 16 Primers        | Olchiki, Kuduk                                                             |

- (c): As reflected in U-DISE: Flash Statistics 2016-17, details of the student enrolment and student retention ratiosof boys and girls by social category at Primary and Secondary level school are as under:

## Enrolment

| Social   | Primary   | Primary   | Primary   | Secondary   | Secondary   | Secondary   |
|----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| Category | Boys      | Girls     | Total     | Boys        | Girls       | Total       |
| General  | 16168128  | 14426317  | 30594445  | 5565226     | 5017546     | 10582772    |
| SC       | 12530869  | 11782642  | 24313511  | 3759773     | 3454067     | 7213840     |
| ST       | 6762313   | 6318480   | 13080793  | 1683257     | 1593313     | 3276570     |
| OBC      | 28783449  | 27035694  | 55819143  | 9372215     | 8378457     | 17750672    |

## Dropout

| Social Category   | Primary   | Primary   | Primary   | Secondary   | Secondary   | Secondary   |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
|                   | Boys      | Girls     | Total     | Boys        | Girls       | Total       |
| General           | 4.48      | 4.96      | 4.71      | 15.14       | 16.27       | 15.68       |
| SC                | 8.30      | 7.86      | 8.09      | 23.06       | 21.99       | 22.55       |
| ST                | 8.57      | 8.51      | 8.54      | 27.41       | 26.51       | 26.97       |
| OBC               | 6.10      | 5.79      | 5.95      | 20.28       | 19.77       | 20.04       |

- (d)& (e): Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  has  been  issuing  advisories  to  engage  local teachers to overcome shortages and to enhance the teacher student responsiveness and  employment  opportunities.  Further,  funds  are  also  provided  to  the  State Governments for the purpose under various schemes of the Ministry based on the proposal received from them.

*****