Lok Sabha Question No. 191 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-08
Subject: Education to Deprived Students
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 191 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2021

## Education to Deprived Students

*191. SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to identify students who are not in a position to  return  to  classes  when  schools  reopen,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor; (b)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  for  those  students  whose  economic circumstances have changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic impact on their families; and (c) whether the Government has planned any special initiative for the students at the margins who have been deprived of online education during Covid-19 pandemic and

- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons, therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

**********

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  191  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  08.03.2021  ASKED  BY HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA REGARDING 'EDUCATION TO DEPRIVED STUDENTS'.

(a)  to  (c)  Education  is  in  the  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution  and  most  of  the schools  comes  under  the  purview  of  the  respective  State  and  UT  Governments. 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 15th October, 2020, in a graded manner, The decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school/institution management, based on their assessment of the situation. The students may attend schools/institutions only with the written consent of parents. Online /distance learning shall continue to be the preferred mode of teaching and shall be encouraged.

Further, In order 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 has issued detailed guidelines on 7 th January,  2021  to  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).  The link of these guidelines is at:

https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/guidelines\_oosc.pdf

During COVID-19 Pandemic, this Ministry has taken many initiatives to ensure that the school going students who cannot afford a smart phone or other technological devices don't lag behind in their studies during COVID-19 pandemic which include the following:

-  One Class One Channel of Swayam Prabha: 12 DTH Channel of Swayam Prabha for School Education are meant to support and reach those who do not have access to the internet.
-  Extensive use of Radio, Community radio and Podcasts: Radio broadcasting is being  used for children in remote areas  who are  not online.

Community  Radio  Stations  have  also  been  used  to  broadcast  content  for NIOS for grades 9 to 12. A Podcast called Shiksha Vani is being effectively used by learners of grades 9 to12.

-  For the differently-abled: One DTH channel is being operated specifically for hearing impaired students in sign language. For visually and hearing impaired students, study material has been developed in Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language; both are available on NIOS website/ YouTube.
-  Other activities undertaken include the following:
- o Alternative Academic Calendar which is based on experiential learning with the help of community available experiences.
- o Textbooks supplied to residence of learners
- o Energised Textbooks with QR code e-content (3567 text books)
- o Worksheets for students.

*****