Lok Sabha Question No. 3078 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-31
Subject: Learning Skills
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3078 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 st  December, 2018

## Learning Skills

## 3078.  SHRI MATI  KIRRON KHER:

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

- (a) the steps being taken by the Government to enhance foundational learning at the school level;
- (b) whether the Government is contemplating technology aided examination systems at the school  level  that  enable  students  to  take  and  retake  exams  and  whether  such  a  system holds the potential to reduce drop-out levels;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is contemplating any reforms for the governance mechanisms in the school education system to separate the functions of policy making, regulation and provision; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a) The  'Padhe  Bharat  Badhe  Bharat'  (PBBB)  is  a  sub-programme  of  erstwhile  Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) which is continued under the new integrated scheme Samagra Shiksha to ensure quality at the foundational years of schooling. The objectives of the programme are to promote  early  reading  and  writing  with  comprehension  skills  in  children,  and  also  basic numeracy  skills.  States/  UTs  are  implementing  PBBB  in  their  respective  States/UTs  using multiple strategies and approaches. These include adoption of NCERT model of early reading, provision  of  supplementary  reading  material,  development  of  State  specific  models  for  early Maths and early reading, collaboration with organizations like UNICEF etc.

Central Government  has  taken  various steps towards the implementation of the programme of PBBB, which inter-alia, include preparation of special bridge materials for States having a high tribal population; provisioning of free textbooks, development and procurement of supplementary  reading  material;  in-service  teacher  training;  having  dedicated  teachers  for foundational classes and maintaining the required Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) as prescribed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Under the Samagra Shiksha, an annual grant of Rs. 5000/- to Rs. 20,000/- per school for strengthening of school Library has been provisioned in order to complement the activities under Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat (PBBB) and inculcate the reading habits among students of all ages, strengthening of school libraries including purchase of books by providing grant for libraries in government schools.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) have developed minimum class-wise, subject-wise Learning Outcomes for all classes from I-VIII in all subject areas. Learning outcomes are assessment standards indicating the expected levels of learning that children  should  achieve  for  that  class.  These  indicators  can  be  used  as  check  points  to  assess learning at different points of time. The Learning Outcomes for each class at elementary stage in Languages (Hindi, English and Urdu), Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Science and Social Science have been finalized and shared with all States and UTs.

(b) & (c): No such proposal is under consideration at this stage.

(d) & (e): Education is a subject in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the school  in  the  country  are  under  the  administrative  control  of  the  State  Government  and  UT Administrations. Under Section 23 (1) of the RTE Act, 2009, Central Government has notified National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) as an academic authority to lay down minimum qualifications  for  appointment  as  a  teacher.  Accordingly,  NCTE  has  prescribed  the  minimum qualifications  for  appointment  as  a  teacher  in  its  extant  regulations  as  amended  from  time  to time.

Further,  National  Curriculum  Framework  (NCF),  2005  developed  by  the  NCERT provides the broad framework for school curriculum development. As per Section 29 of Right to Free  and  Compulsory  Education  Act,  2009  the  State  Academic  Authority  is responsible for designing  the  curriculum  and  evaluation  framework.    All  States/UTs  have  either  adopted textbooks developed by the NCERT or revised their textbooks in accordance with the provisions of NCF.

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