Lok Sabha Question No. 200 (STARRED), answered on 2021-08-02
Subject: Skills in School Syllabus
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Manne Srinivas Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 200 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2021

## Skills in School Syllabus

## *200. SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY: SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  introduced  coding  and  data  sciences  as  skill  modules  in CBSE curriculum this year in collaboration with software giant Microsoft in accordance with the National Education Policy;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  National  Education  Policy  envisages  increased  integration  of  a  variety  of skills into the school syllabus;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  invited  views  from  the  State  Governments  and  all  other stakeholders in this regard; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  of  the  views/  suggestions  received  along  with  the  response  of  the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF EDUCATION

( SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN )

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.200  FOR  ANSWER  ON  02.08.2021  ASKED  BY  SHRI KOTHA  PRABHAKAR  REDDY  AND  SHRI  MANNE  SRINIVAS  REDDY,  HON'BLE MP, LOK SABHA REGARDING SKILLS IN SCHOOL SYLLABUS.

(a) and (b):  Yes Sir, In compliance of the provisions of National Education Policy (NEP) - 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced 'Coding' and 'Data Science' as  Skill  Modules  in  CBSE  curriculum  this  year  vide  its  Circular  No.  38/2021  dated  3 rd June 2021which can be accessed on the website of CBSE i.e. http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web\_material/Circulars/2021/38\_Circular\_2021.pdf

Coding has been introduced as a Skill Module of 12 hours duration for students of classes VI-VIII. Whereas, Data Science has been introduced as a Skill Module of 12-hours duration in Class VIII and as an optional Skill Subject in Classes IX - XII.  Curriculum, Faculty and Student handbooks for both subjects were prepared with support from Microsoft.

(c): Yes Sir, Para 4.23 of National Education Policy, 2020 provides that while students must have a large amount of flexibility in choosing their individual curricula, certain subjects, skills, and  capacities  should  be  learned  by  all  students  to  become  good,  successful,  innovative, adaptable,  and  productive  human  beings  in  today's  rapidly  changing  world.  In  addition  to proficiency  in  languages,  these  skills  include:  scientific  temper  and  evidence-based  thinking; creativity and innovativeness; sense of aesthetics and art; oral and written communication; health and  nutrition;  physical  education,  fitness,  wellness,  and  sports;  collaboration  and  teamwork; problem solving and logical reasoning; vocational exposure and skills; digital literacy, coding, and computational thinking; ethical and moral reasoning; knowledge and practice of human and Constitutional  values;  gender  sensitivity;  Fundamental  Duties;  citizenship  skills  and  values; knowledge  of  India;  environmental  awareness  including  water  and  resource  conservation, sanitation  and  hygiene;  and  current  affairs  and  knowledge  of  critical  issues  facing  local communities, States, the country, and the world.

(d) and (e): A comprehensive action plan called 'Students' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement through Quality Education (SARTHAQ) has been prepared for implementation of the  recommendations  of  the  NEP  through  identified  tasks,  agencies  and  timelines.    For  the preparation  of  SARTHAQ, views  were invited from State Government  and other stakeholders and  around  15  Lakh  suggestions  from  teachers  and  7177  suggestions  from  States  /  UTs  were received.    Relevant  views  /  suggestions  have  been  taken  into  consideration  and  included  in SARTHAQ. (Link at:https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/upload\_ document/SARTHAQ\_Part-1\_updated.pdf)

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