Lok Sabha Question No. 1871 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Closure of Schools for Longer Period
Ministry: Education
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1871 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## Closure of Schools for Longer Period

## 1871.   SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that India is the second country after Uganda where offline schools were shut for the longest period of time;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is true that many reports suggest the online teaching as a threat to child's cognitive  development  and  if  so,  the  reasons  for  Government  promoting  blended mode of education in this year's budget; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a)  to  (d)  As  per  the  United  Nations  Educational,  Scientific  and  Cultural  Organization (UNESCO) report, India is the second country after Uganda where offline schools were shut for the longest period of time. However, the Report does not mention the methodology used in  the  study  and  the  source  of  this  data  is  stated  to  be  a  study  by  a  non-governmental organisation.

Schools were closed as a precautionary measure to protect the students from Novel COVID-19  (Corona)  virus  across  the  world.  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  vide  their order  No.  40-3/2020-DM-I  (A)  dated  30th  September,  2020  has  stated  that  State/UT Governments  may  take  a  decision  in  respect  of  re-opening  of  schools,  after  15 th October, 2020, in a graded manner and the decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school/institution management, based on their assessment of the situation. The Department of School  Education  and  Literacy  has  issued  detailed  SOP/guidelines  regarding  health  and safety precautions for reopening of schools after issue of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines for unlock-5, on 5 th October, 2020. These guidelines have been revised vide letter 17 th December, 2021. These guidelines can be accessed at following links respectively.

https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/SOP\_Guidelines\_for\_reopening\_s chools\_0.pdf https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/Modifications\_SoP.pdf

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the education system not only in India but also in countries across the world due to closure of schools. This also lead to a situation where the Centre, States  and  educational  institutions  had  to  adopt  online  technologies  and Blended  Mode  of  Education  at  a  very  rapid  pace  to  ensure  continued  education  of  the students. 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  21 st Century  Skills  and  community/mohalla  classes.  Innovation  Funds  under  Samagra Shiksha  have  been  used  to  set  up  mobile  school,  virtual  studios,  virtual  class  rooms  in schools, Continuous Learning Plan (CLP), pre-loaded tablets etc. in various states and UTs in remote/rural areas where online classes are difficult. The Union Budget 2022-23 has given a major push to the education with a total allocation of Rs 1,04,278 crore, which is an increase of nearly 12 % over the previous year.

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