Lok Sabha Question No. 2355 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: State Council of Education Research &amp; Training (SCERT)
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2355

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## State Council of Education Research & Training (SCERT)

## 2355. MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the extent to which the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) can  add  'local  flavor'  in  the  proposed  National  Curriculum  set  by  the  NCERT  and whether the SCERT additions are an addition to NCERT curriculum or a subsidiary thereof?

(b) whether the powers bestowed upon State School Standards Authority (SSSA) are strictly that of monitoring and if not, the interventions SSSAs can make? and

(c)  whether a proposed plan to ensure State autonomy in education exists, with the dilution  of  State  Department  of  School  Education  in  the  NEP  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SMT ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a)  As  per  the  National  Education  Policy  2020,  the  National  Curriculum  Framework has four parts and a comprehensive strategy document has been prepared jointly by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and NCERT.  By adopting a bottom-up approach for curriculum framework all states/UTs have started the process for preparing their State Curriculum Frameworks (SCFs) passing through the process of district level consultations,  mobile  app  survey  and  development  of  position  papers  by  the  State Focus  Groups  in  identified  areas/themes  as  per  the  NEP  2020  including  ECCE, School Education, Teacher Education and Adult Education. The Ministry of Education has  formed  the  National  Steering  Committee  for  the  development  of  National Curriculum Frameworks on 21-9-2021. Para 4.31 of NEP 2020 has mentioned about National Textbooks with Local Content and Flavour.

(b)    NEP 2020 has recommended the creation of Standard Setting and Accreditation of  Schools  to  ensure  that  all  public  and  private  schools  follow  certain  minimal professional and quality standards to end the existing dichotomy between government and private schools. States/UTs (SCERTs) are required to set up an independent body called  State  School  Standard  Authority  (SSSA).  This  apex state-level  body in  school education, will be responsible for overall monitoring and policymaking for the continual improvement of the public education system. The government of India does not intend to  regulate  state-level  schools.  State/UT  governments  through  their  State  Council of Educational Research and Training and SSSA, Department of Education, Directorate of Education are independent to monitor and regulate their schools.

(c) The  Para  8  of  NEP  (2020)  on  Standard-setting  and  Accreditation  for  School Education has stated the key principles and recommendations of this Policy regarding the  State  school  education  system,  where  States  have  independence  to  implement policies regarding educational operations and provision.

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