Lok Sabha Question No. 1241 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Academic Year as Zero Year
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Margani Bharat

(a)& (b)No, Sir.

- (c) In order to engage students meaningfully through educational activities during their stay at home in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has brought out a series of Alternative Academic Calendars (AAC) for all  classes.  Following  these  calendars,  students of  all  classes  can  receive  school  education systematically at home with the help of their teachers through available technological and social media and other innovative tools till their schools get open. NCERT has also prepared 'Students' Learning Enhancement Guidelines' with a focus on learning outcome. These guidelines suggest alternative measures to ensure learning outcomes during the school lockdown period.

Besides,  Ministry  of  Education  has  taken  several  measures  to  provide  continuous education  through  various  online  modes  under  the  PM  eVIDYA  initiative,  which  unifies  all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1241 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## Academic Year as Zero Year

## 1241.  SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is planning to adjustthe academic year which is almost washed out due toCOVID and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government had any plans to declarethis academic year as zero year;
- (c) if  not,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  tocover  the  minimum  days  of  study requirement forstudents;
- (d) whether there are any plans to reduce syllabus,particularly to X and XII class; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

States and Union Territories have been requested to undertake School-based planning for ensuring continuous learning for every learner enrolled in the school and to prepare a Continuous Learning Plan for every child.

The  University  Grants  Commission  has  also  issued  guidelines  on  Examinations  and Academic  Calendar  for  the  Universities  in  view  of  COVID-19  pandemic  and  subsequent lockdown on 29 th April, 2020.  As per these guidelines, the Academic Calendar for the Academic Session  2019-2020  has  been  suggested.    The  guidelines  also  suggest  that  after  end  of  the lockdown  the  teaching  learning  process  shall  be  continued  in  online  mode.  Therefore,  the Government has taken sufficient actions to ensure that the COVID-19 does not affect learning in the  academic year 2019-2020.For the session 2020-2021, the classes for the 2 nd year and 3 rd year college students have already been started with effect from 1 st August, 2020.

(d)& (e) The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has already rationalized its syllabi of Classes X and XII to an extent of about 30% for the purpose of Board Examination 2021. The State Governments are to take their own decision in this regard.

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