Lok Sabha Question No. 1132 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: New Education Policy
Ministry: Education
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1132 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2021

## New Education Policy

1132. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  dependence  on  the  internet  and  suitable  and  expensive mobility equipment  and  the sudden  closure of educational institutions  and the consequent  mass  dropouts  across  the  country  rendered  the  newly  framed  National Educational Policy (NEP) practically infructuous in the short and medium run; and
- (b)  if  so,  the  remedial  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase active participation of students in the virtual instruction mode of education?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a)  to  (b):  In  pursuance  of  the  goals  and  objectives  of  the  National  Education  Policy (NEP) 2020, the Department has developed an indicative and suggestive Implementation  Plan  for  School  Education,  called  'Students'  and  Teachers'  Holistic Advancement  through  Quality Education (SARTHAQ)'.  This  implementation plan delineates  the  roadmap  and  way  forward  for  smooth  and  effective  implementation  of NEP, 2020. The implementation of SARTHAQ would benefit all stakeholders including students,  schools,  teachers,  Educational  Administrators,  Parents,  and  community. Further, various steps have been taken for implementation of the recommendations of NEP 2020 by the organizations concerned.

A comprehensive Covid action plan  has been shared with the States and UTs on 4 th   May  2021,  outlining  the  role  of  local  bodies,  formation  of  nodal  group  at village/town level, conducting door-to-door/helpdesk-based/app based survey to identify out of school children, their mainstreaming and resource sharing.

During  the  pandemic,  the  Ministry  of  Education  has  taken  various  steps  for providing children continued access to education, which are available to each category of students irrespective of their region or economic standard. A comprehensive initiative called PMeVidya  has been started which aims to unify all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education. The initiative includes  all  forms  of  digital  modes  to  provide  remote  access  DIKSHA  (online), SWAYAM  (online),  SWAYAM  PRABHA  (TV),  other  TV  Channels  including  use  of Doordarshan and AIR Networks. Further, Pragyata guidelines were issued to States/UTs  to  facilitate  continued  education  through  various  modes.  The  guidelines provide all forms of digital modes to provide remote access inter-alia include situation where  internet  connectivity  is  not  available  or  available  with  very  less  bandwidth, resources  are  shared  through  various  platforms  like  television,  radio  etc  that  do  not depend on internet.

An  Alternate  Academic  Calendar  has  been  prepared  for  learning  solutions  for grade 1 to 12 for both children with and without device. Besides these, community radio, worksheets  &  textbooks  supplied  to  residence  of  learners,  home  visits  by  teachers, community classes, toll free numbers, SMS based requests for audio content, localised radio content for edutainment etc have been used. The steps taken by all the states are shown  in  the  -  India  Report  Digital  Education  June  2020,  which  is  available  at  the following link:

https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/India\_Report\_Digital\_Education\_0.p df.

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