Lok Sabha Question No. 872 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Learning Loss Due to COVID -19
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 872 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022

## Learning Loss Due to COVID -19

## 872. SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the learning loss due to prolonged closure of schools;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by Government to compensate long term loss of the students;
- (c) whether the Government proposes full fledged opening of schools and colleges; and
- (d) if so, whether the Government has issued any directives in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) The spread of COVID-19 pandemic has impacted school education. Schools in States and Union Territories (UT) were closed as a precautionary measure to protect the students from  Novel  COVID-19  (Corona)  virus.  This  has  interrupted  the  learning  of  students  from pre-  school  to  grade  12.  Education  being  in  the  concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and majority of the schools are under the domain of respective State and UT Governments. During  pandemic,  Ministry  of  Education  had  several  consultations  with  the States and UTs to assess the various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample survey was  conducted  in  the  month  of  July,  2020  for  schools  of    Kendriya  Vidyalaya  Sangathan (KVS),  and  Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Samiti  (NVS)  by  the  Department.  Subsequently,  further surveys  were  conducted  in  early  2021  regarding  availability  of  various  forms  of  digital devices with children. NVS has reported 92.95% and KVS has more than 98% of students having full or partial access to some digital device. The National Achievement Survey (NAS) was held on November 12, 2021 across India to assess the learning outcomes of students and schools across grades 3,5,8 and 10.

- (b) In order to mitigate the impact of challenges thrown by the COVID-19 pandemic for migrant  children  and  for  preventing  drop  outs,  lower  enrolments  and  loss  of  learning,  the Ministry  of  Education  issued  guidelines  for  identification,  smooth  admission  process  and continued education of migrant children on 13.07.2020. To ensure that children have access to education with quality and equity and to minimize the impact of the pandemic on school education  in  the  country,  the  Department  of  School  Education  has  prepared  and  issued detailed guidelines on 7th January, 2021, on the steps to be taken by the States and UTs. The guidelines,  among  others,  include  identification  of  out  of  school  children  from  age  6-18

years, enrolment drives and awareness generation, student support while schools are closed, continued  education  for  children  with  Special  Needs  (CWSN),  student  support  on  school reopening and Teacher capacity building.

The Department of School Education and Literacy vide letter dated 4th May, 2021 has shared  a  comprehensive  Covid  Action  plan  with  States/UTs  and  other  stakeholders  for mitigating  the  loss  of  learning. This  Department  has  also  developed  an  online  module  for compiling the data of Out of School Children (OOSC) identified by each State/UT and their mapping with Special Training Centres (STC) on the PRABANDH Portal (http://samagrashiksha.in).  The portal requires the concerned State/UT to validate the child wise  information  of  the  identified  OOSC  and  STC  uploaded  by  the  concerned  Block Resource Centre of the State for monitoring the progress of mainstreaming of OOSC. Also, Bridge Course Modules have been developed for bridging the learning gaps of Out of School Children studying in Special Training Centers (STC) under the provision of RTE Act, 2009.

A comprehensive initiative called PM eVIDYA has been initiated which unifies all efforts  related  to  digital/online/on-air  education  to  enable  multi-mode  access  to  education. The initiative includes, the following components:

- DIKSHA the nation's digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content for school education  in  states/UTs:    and  QR  coded  Energized  Textbooks  for  all  grades  (one nation, one digital platform)
- One earmarked Swayam Prabha TV channel per class from 1 to 12 (one class, one channel)
- Extensive use of Radio, Community radio and CBSE Podcast- Shiksha Vani
- Special e-content for visually and hearing impaired developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube

Where the digital facility (mobile device/ DTH television) is not available, Ministry of Education has taken many initiatives  like  Community  Radio  Stations  and  a  podcast  called Shiksha Vani of CBSE, Textbooks, worksheet supplied to residence of learners, Handbook on 21 st Century Skills and community/mohalla classes are being organized. Innovation Funds of  the  Department  are  used  to  set  up  mobile  school,  virtual  studios,  virtual  class  rooms  in schools, Continuous Learning Plan (CLP) for States/UTs has been initiated in all States/UTs, pre-loaded tablets under Samagra Shiksha in various states and UTs are effectively used in remote/rural areas where online classes are difficult. Further in order to provide continuous professional development  opportunities to the teachers at the elementary level, this Department launched the NISHTHA online training programme using DIKSHA platform in October 2020. NISHTHA online for elementary level covered 18 modules in 11 languages, including use of ICT in teaching-learning.

(c) & (d) Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) vide their order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I (A) dated  30th  September,  2020  has  stated  that  State/UT  Governments  may  take  a  decision  in respect  of  re-opening  of  schools,  after  15 th October,  2020,  in  a  graded  manner.  Further, Department of Higher Education (DHE), Ministry of Education may take a decision on the timing  of  the  opening  of  Colleges/Higher  Education  Institutions,  in  consultation  with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on the assessment of the situation.

The Department of School Education and Literacy has issued detailed SOP/guidelines regarding health and safety precautions for reopening  of schools after issue of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines for unlock-5, on 5 th October, 2020. These are based on the prevailing instructions of Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and  Ministry  of  Education  with  regard  to  health  and  safety  protocols,  and  are  to  be implemented  by  adopting/adapting  in  accordance  with  the  local  situation  in  all  states/UTs. These guidelines can be accessed at :

https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/SOP\_Guidelines\_for\_reopening\_s chools\_0.pdf

These guidelines have been revised vide letter 17 th December, 2021.

The University Grant Commission (UGC) has also framed Guidelines for Re-opening the Universities and Colleges Post lockdown due to COVID-19 Pandemic which provide in detail  the  measures  to  be  taken  before  re-opening  of  campuses.  The  guidelines  may  be adopted  by  the  institutions  as  per  the  local  conditions  and  directives  of  the  Governments authorities.

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