Lok Sabha Question No. 5268 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Learning Loss Among Children due to Pandemic
Ministry: Education
Asked by: K. Jayakumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 5268

## ANSWERED ON - 03/04/2023

## Learning Loss Among Children due to Pandemic

## 5268.   DR. K. JAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  rise  in  pandemic  induced learning loss amongst children;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken measures in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  provide  special  curriculum  to  primary school students to develop basic reading and arithmetic abilities;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, detail of the Government plans in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (e) Due  to  the  spread  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  schools  in  States  and  Union Territories  (UT)  were  closed  as  a  precautionary  measure  to  protect  the  students.  This  has interrupted  the  learning  of  students  from  pre-school  to  grade  12.  Education  is  in  the concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  majority  of  the  schools  are  under  the  domain  of respective  State  and  UT  Governments.  During  the  pandemic,  Ministry  of  Education  held several consultations with the States and UTs to assess the various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Further, the Government of India has been implementing a programme of sample based National Achievement Survey (NAS) aimed at classes III, V, VIII and X with a cycle period of three years. The last round of NAS was held on November 12, 2021 across India covering  students  of  grades  3,  5,  8  and  10.  The  aim  and  objective  of  NAS  is  to  evaluate children's progress and learning competencies as an indicator of the health of the education system,  so  as  to  take  appropriate  steps  for  remedial  actions  at  different  levels.  National, State/UT  and  District  Reports  for  NAS  2021  have  been  released  on  25.05.2022  and  are available at http://nas.gov.in.

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  had  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  had  shared  a  comprehensive  Covid  Action  plan  with States/UTs and other stakeholders for mitigating the loss of learning.

A comprehensive initiative called PM eVIDYA had 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 PM eVidya DTH TV channel per class from 1 to 12.
- 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 21st Century Skills and community/mohalla classes were organized. Innovation Funds of the  Department  were  used  to  set  up  mobile  school,  virtual  studios,  virtual  class  rooms  in schools, Continuous Learning Plan (CLP) for States/UTs was initiated in all States/UTs, preloaded  tablets  under  Samagra  Shiksha  in  various  states  and  UTs  were  effectively  used  in remote/rural areas where online classes were 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.

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