Lok Sabha Question No. 365 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Minimum Level of Learning for School Children
Ministry: Education
Asked by: D. Ravikumar

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 365

## ANSWERED ON 27.03.2023

## Minimum Level of Learning for School Children

## *365.  SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a)  whether  there  is  learning  gap  of  children  as  per  their  standards  even  after  a decade of enactment of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, (RTE Act) 2009,  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  the  Minimum  Level  of Learning (MLL) for all school children; (b)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  from  Jan,  2020  to  December,  2022  for enrolling  returned  migrant/child  labour  and  children  of  weaker  sections  in  the schools; (c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure proper implementation of the RTE Act in schools especially in West Champaran where schools do not have girls toilet and if there are toilets they are not functional; and (d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure School Management Committees under  the  RTE  Act,  2009  is  effective  and  functional  so  that  children  who  are irregular, dropped out and out of schools are tracked and brought to schools?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

- ******

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  365 ANSWERED  ON  27.03.2023  ASKED  BY HON'BLE  MP,  SHRI  RAVIKUMAR  D.  REGARDING  MINIMUM  LEVEL  OF LEARNING FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

(a)  &  (b):    The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  has  launched  an Integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education-Samagra Shiksha with effect from the year 2018-19. The Scheme subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of SarvaShikshaAbhiyan (SSA),Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). Samagra Shiksha scheme has been aligned  with  the  recommendations  of  NEP  2020  to  ensure  that  all  children  have access to quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which  should  take  care  of  their  diverse  background,  multilingual  needs,  different academic abilities and make them active participants in the learning process.

The Ministry of Education, Department of School Education and Literacy has conducted National Achievement Survey (NAS) on 12.11.2021 in 717 districts of the country to assess learning levels of sampled children of grades 3, 5, 8 and 10. 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.  National,  State/UT  and District Reports for NAS 2021 have been released on 25.05.2022 and are available at http://nas.gov.in.

In  order  to  mitigate  the  impact  of  challenges  thrown  by  the  COVID-19 pandemic for migrant children and for preventing drop outs, lower enrolments and loss  of  learning,  this  department  has  issued  guidelines  dated  13.07.2020  for identification, smooth  admission  process  and  continued  education  of  migrant children, inter-alia, requesting the States to identify and enroll all children without any procedural  formalities  and  maintain  a  database  of  children  so  admitted.  Also,  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, Ministry of Education  has  shared  guidelines  dated  7th  January,  2021  with  all  States  which, 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),  student support on school reopening and Teacher capacity building.

The Department of School Education and Literacy vide letter dated 4th May, 2021  has  shared  a  comprehensive  Covid  Action  plan  with  States/UTs  and  other stakeholders  for mitigating the learning  gap.  Further,  an  Alternate  Academic Calendar  has  been  prepared  for  learning  solutions  including  self-assessment  for grade 1 to 12 for both children with and without device.

Section  12(1)(c)  of  the  RTE  Act,  2009  provides  for  admission  of  children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in the schools specified in sub-clauses (iii) and (iv) of clause (n) of section 2 in Class I (or below) to the extent of at least 25 percent of the strength of that class.

(c): Education is in the Concurrent list of Constitution and most of the schools come under jurisdiction of concerned States and UTs. State and UT Governments are the appropriate  Governments  under  the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009,  and  have  the  responsibility  and  mandate  to  provide school  infrastructure  in  schools  in  accordance  with  the  norms  laid  down  in  the Schedule to the RTE Act, 2009 and as per respective State RTE Rules. States and UTs including Bihar have been repeatedly advised to ensure that all the schools in their jurisdiction should have provision for separate toilets for boys and girls and safe and adequate drinking water facilities for all children. As per UDISE+ 2021-22, out of 3509 co-ed & girl's schools in the West Champaran district of Bihar, 3503 schools have girl's toilet and 3502 schools have functional girl's toilet.

Further  the  Department  of  School  Education  &  Literacy  has  approved  a project on Rejuvenation of Basic Infrastructure in approximately 1.20 lakh Government schools across the country with an overall budget estimate of Rs. 4590 crore out of which, budget estimate of Rs 598.05 crore for 21789 schools have been allocated for the State of Bihar.

(d): Section 21(1) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act,  2009  provides  for  a  School  Management  Committee  (SMC)  in  schools  other than  unaided  schools  and  envisages  dynamic  role  of  the  community  in  effective monitoring of schools. Section 21(2) of the Act lays down the following functions of the SMCs namely: (i) Monitor the working of the school (ii) prepare and recommend school development plan (iii) monitor the utilization of the grants received from the appropriate  Government  or  local  authority  or  any  other  source  (iv)  perform  such

other functions as may be prescribed. Samagra  Shiksha  scheme  assigns  special  importance  to  decentralised planning  and  implementation  with  active  involvement  of  community  members, teachers,  parents,  local  bodies  including  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions,  Municipal Bodies, and other stakeholders in the management of schools through SMCs. Under Samagra Shiksha, there is specific provision of financial assistance of up to Rs.1500 per school under 'Community Mobilisation' and upto Rs. 3000 per school for Training of SMC/SDMC members for Government Schools.

*******