Lok Sabha Question No. 1897 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-19
Subject: Indian Education System at Par with Global Standard
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Kani K. Navas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No-1897

ANSWERED ON- 19/12/2022

## INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM AT PAR WITH GLOBAL STANDARD

1897. SHRI K. NAVASKANI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning for major reforms in the education standards to bridge the gap between the present education ecosystem and current state of learning outcomes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the efforts made/being made by the Government to make the Indian education system at par with global standards?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) & (b): The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 envisages a shift in the schooling system from one that is summative and primarily tests rote memorization skills to one that is regular and  formative,  is  more  competency-based,  promotes  learning  and  development  for  our students,  and  tests  higher-order  skills,  such  as  analysis,  critical  thinking,  and  conceptual clarity.

The  Government  has  been  implementing  a  programme  of  sample  based  National Achievement Survey (NAS) to identify gaps in learning outcomes aimed at classes III, V, VIII and  X  with  a  cycle  period  of  three  years.  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. The last round of  NAS  was  held  on  12.11.2021  across  India.  Further,  National  Council  of  Educational Research & Training  (NCERT) has developed competency-based Learning Outcomes in all subjects  for  class  I-X.  All  States/UTs  have  adopted  the  Learning  Outcome  approach.  The Ministry of Education has also launched the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat in July 2021.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also prepared Learning Outcome based Curriculum Framework (LOCF) in 36 subjects. The fundamental premise of LOCF is to specify what graduates completing a particular programme of study are expected to know, understand and  be  able  to  do  at  the  end  of  their  programme  of  study.  LOCF  can  serve  as  guiding documents  for  all  Universities  undertaking  the  task  of  curriculum  revision  and  adoption  of outcome based approach.

(c):  The  Government  has  launched  the  World  Class  Institutions  Scheme  in  2017  to  enable Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to have affordable world class academic and research facilities. The  IoEs  have  been  granted  significant  amount  of  autonomy  in  academic, administrative and financial matters to achieve the objectives of the scheme.

The UGC has also taken several initiatives to bring the higher education system at par with global standards. These initiatives include establishment of the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC);  Guidelines  for  Multiple  Entry  and  Exit  in  Academic  Programmes  offered  in  HEIs; Guidelines for Transforming HEIs into Multidisciplinary Institutions; Guidelines on Internship/ Apprenticeship  embedded  Degree  Programme;  Regulations  on  Academic  Collaboration between Indian and Foreign HEIs; Guidelines for Internationalisation of Higher Education. The initiatives taken by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in this regard include Revision of Curriculum, Examination Reforms, Induction Program, Student Internship, Teacher Training  Policy,  Startup  Initiative  and  Smart  India  Hackathon  (SIH),  UNESCO  India  Africa Hackathon 2022, Research Promotion Scheme, Idea Lab and Modernization & Removal of Obsolescence (MODROB).

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