Lok Sabha Question No. 212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: NIPUN Bharat Scheme
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Mahendra Singh Solanky, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Sandhya Ray, P.P. Chaudhary, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, Rajbahadur Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 212 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 th  NOVEMBER, 2021

## NIPUN Bharat Scheme

## 212.     SHRI MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY:

SHRIMATI SANDHYA RAY: SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA: SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY: SHRI RAJBAHADUR SINGH: DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the aims, objectives and expected outcomes of the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat Scheme;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to develop the methodology of assessment to analyze and assess the implementation of NIPUN Bharat mission;
- (c) whether any capacity building programmes are proposed to be undertaken for training of teachers under the scheme;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of State-wise targets under the scheme?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a):  The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  launched  the  National  Mission  on Foundational  Literacy  and  Numeracy  called  National  Initiative  for  Proficiency  in  Reading  with Understanding  and  Numeracy  (NIPUN  Bharat)  on  5 th July  2021  under  the  aegis  of  Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha. The mission aims to achieve universal foundationalliteracy and  numeracy  in  primary  classes.The  Mission  Guidelines  lays  down  priorities  and  actionable agendas for States and UTs to achieve the goal of proficiency in foundational literacy and numeracy for every child by grade 3. Detailed guidelines for the mission have been developed which includes the codification of development goals and learning outcomes for age 3 to 9 years and Lakshya or Targets for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy starting from Balvatikato Grade III. The guidelines for implementation of the NIPUN Bharat mission has been uploaded on the Department's website under the link mentioned below:

https://dsel.education.gov.in/sites/default/files/NIPUN\_BHARAT\_GUIDELINES\_EN.pdf

(b):  As  per  the  NIPUN  Bharat  implementation  guidelines,  assessment  during  the  foundational learning can be broadly categorized into two major areas, namely:

1. School Based Assessment (SBA) through qualitative observation based on performance of the  child  in  a  multitude  of  experiences  and  activities.  Various  tools  and  techniques  like anecdotal  records,  checklist,  portfolio,  and  interactions  (through  a  holistic  360-degree assessment with teacher, peers, family and friends) have been recommended to be used for assessment.  Thus,  the  teachers  at  the  foundational  stage  need  to  observe  children  as  they play, work on their task, perform or interact among themselves, to assess children's interests and learning.
2. Large-scale standardised assessmentfor assessment of the processes and functioning of the educational  systems  (such  as  NAS,  SAS,  and  Third-Party  Assessments).  The  assessment tools  commonly  used  in  conducting  large  scale  assessment  studies  are  multiple  choice questions (MCQ) and constructed responses are usually avoided to bring in objectivity in the process.  These  assessments  are  a  mechanism  to  gauge  how  well  learning  is  happening  in their  state,  districts,  and  blocks.  In  this  regard,  the  National  Achievement  Survey  (NAS) 2021 has been carried out for assessing learning outcome of children in Grade III.

(c) to (e): A specialized National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA 3.0) for the foundational literacy and numeracy covering about 25 lakh teachers at the primary level across all states and UTs has been launched in September, 2021.

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