Lok Sabha Question No. 73 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Closure of Schools due to CORONA
Ministry: Education
Asked by: S. Jothimani, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 73

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2021

## Closure of Schools due to CORONA

## 73. MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

## SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  estimated  the  learning  loss  due  to  closure  of  schools  during  the COVID-19 pandemic and
- (b) if so, the details thereof; if not, reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has estimated the total number of dropouts due to closure of schools during the pandemic and if so, details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  learning loss due to closure of schools during the pandemic; and

(f)  whether  the  Government is  considering altering the pattern of exams in order to provide a levelplaying field to all students and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to  (d) Education is  in  the  concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  majority  of  the  schools  are under the domain of respective State and UT Governments. During COVID-19 Pandemic, Ministry of Education  has  held  continuous  consultations  with  the  states  and  UTs  at  various  levels  to  assess  the various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdowns on students.  The National Achievement  Survey  (NAS)  was  held  on  November  12,  2021  across  India  to assess  the    learning outcomes of students and schools across grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.

In order to prevent dropouts, lower enrolments and loss of learning, the Ministry of Education has issued guidelines for identification, smooth admission process and continued education of migrant children  on  13th  July,  2020,  inter-alia,  requesting  the  States  to  identify  and  enroll  all  such  children without any procedural formalities and maintain a database of children so admitted. Further, 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. A comprehensive Covid action plan has been shared with the States and UTs on 4th 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.

Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha, which is an overarching scheme for school  education  covering  all  levels  from  pre-primary  to  senior  secondary,  financial  assistance  is provided  to  the  States  and  UTs  for  various  activities  to  reduce  dropouts  at  secondary  level,  which include  opening/strengthening  of  new  schools  up  to  senior  secondary  level,  strengthening  school infrastructure, setting up, upgradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) upto class  12,  setting  up  of  residential  schools/hostels  named  Netaji  Subhas  Chandra  Bose  Avasiya Vidyalayas,  transport  allowance,  undertaking  enrolment  drives,  seasonal  hostels/  residential  camps, provision of vocational education and ICT facilities in schools, etc, financial assistance is also provided for aids and appliances for children with special needs.

(e) After  discussion  with  the  States  and  UTs,  a  multi-pronged  approach  has  been  adopted leveraging technology to reach the students in States/UTs. Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA),  Study  Webs  of  active-learning  for  young  aspiring  minds  (SWAYAM),    PRAGYATA guidelines on digital education,  e-textbooks and e-content on National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER), online virtual labs (OLABS) for practicals related e-content, activity-based and highly  engaging  modules  for  special  resources  for  teachers  focusing  upon  experiential  learning  and competency-based education, NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers for their Holistic  Advancement)  online  for  capacity  building  programme  for  Elementary  school  teachers  and School Heads etc. are used by schools, to provide learning facilities.

Ministry  of  Education  has  taken  many  initiatives    like    One  Class  One  Channel  of SWAYAM  PRABHA  to  impart  education  through  TV,    One  DTH  channel  for  hearing  impaired students  in  sign  language,    Community  Radio  Stations  and  a  podcast  called  Shiksha  Vani  of  CBSE. Textbooks and worksheets were supplied to residence of learners and community/mohalla classes are being organized. Innovation Funds of Department of School Education & Literacy were used to set up mobile  school,  virtual  studios,  virtual  class  rooms  in  schools.    Continuous  Learning  Plan  (CLP)  for States/UTs has been initiated in all States/UTs, pre-loaded tablets provided under Samagra Shiksha in various States and UTs are effectively used in remote/rural areas where online classes are difficult.

Taking cognizance of learning losses in students, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)  took several steps which include:

- adoption of guidelines on digital education, alternative academic calendar and student learning enhancement guidelines;
- development of podcasts on difficult topics and a host of other resources for teachers;
- Psychological counselling of students;
- alternative scheme to declare results as examinations were interrupted;
- introduced biannual Board examination from this year;
- change of examination centers for students who have migrated to different places; and training of teachers.

(f) CBSE  has  modified  its  examination  scheme  by  introducing  biannual  examinations  from  the current academic session 2021-22 to implement the recommendations of NEP-2020. The examinations will be held at the end of two terms each on half of the syllabus prescribed for the year. For classes X and XII, the first  term  examinations  of one  and  a  half  hour  are  currently  being  conducted  using  the question paper comprising only Multiple Type Questions developed by CBSE and in the presence of external  supervisors  appointed  by  CBSE.  The  second  term  examination  will  be  held  during  MarchApril  2022  for  a  duration  of  2-hours.  This  would  have  descriptive  questions. The  results  will  be declared either on the basis of both of these examinations or on the basis of first term only if the second term is not possible due to any exigency.

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