Lok Sabha Question No. 536 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Improvement in Quality of Education under NEP
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sudheer Gupta, Prataprao  Jadhav, Shrirang Appa Barne, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 536 ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## Improvement in Quality of Education under NEP

536. SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of various initiatives taken/being taken by the Government under the new National Education  Policy  (NEP)  to  improve  quality  of  education  across  all  levels  from  Primary  to University level;
- (b) the amount of budget earmarked for the purpose in the last three years, year-wise;
- (c) the number of States in the country that have implemented the National Education Policy;
- (d) whether there is any State which has not implemented this policy so far and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of such State;
- (e) the further steps taken/being taken by the Government to implement New National Education to all States of the country;
- (f) whether there is any proposal of Government to make education vocation/skill-oriented at the Secondary level so that the students after completing XII class can be gainfully employed;
- (g) whether the Government has conducted any study to find out if introduction of breakfast in schools along with mid-day meals can significantly reduce dropout rates; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a): In pursuance of the goals and objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), several initiatives have been launched in School Education viz. National Initiative for Proficiency  in  Reading  with  Understanding  and  Numeracy  (NIPUN  Bharat)  for  ensuring foundational  literacy  and  numeracy  by  the  end  of  Grade  3,  Vidya-Pravesh  -  Guidelines  for

Three-month  Play-based  School  Preparation  Module;  Indian  Sign  Language  as  a  Subject  at secondary  level  by  National  Institute  of  Open  Schooling;  NISHTHA  (National  Initiative  for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement) 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 Integrated Teacher Training Programme for different stages of school education for Teachers, Head Teachers/Principals and other stakeholders in Educational Management; SAFAL (Structured Assessment for Analysing Learning Levels) for competency-based assessment in CBSE schools for grades 3, 5 and 8, etc.

Similarly,  in  Higher  Education,  various  initiatives  /  reforms  have  been  carried  out  such  as Academic Bank of Credit (ABC); Multiple Entry/Exit in Academic Programmes; Transforming Higher Education Institutions into Multidisciplinary Institutions; Common Universities Entrance Test; Internship/Apprenticeship embedded Degree Programme; Online and ODL Education;  1st Year Engineering Programmes in Regional Languages; Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational Institutions to offer Twinning, Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programmes; Pursuing two Academic Programmes simultaneously; Establishment of Research and Development Cells in HEIs; Professor of Practice; Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programme, etc.

- (b): Details of total Budget Allocation of the Ministry are given in table below:

(Rs. in Crores)

| Details of Budget Allocation   | Details of Budget Allocation   |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Financial Year                 | Total Budget Allocation        |
| 2020-21                        | 99311.52                       |
| 2021-22                        | 93224.31                       |
| 2022-23                        | 104277.72                      |

- (c) to (e): After announcement  of  NEP  2020,  Ministry  of Education, other relevant Ministries/Departments, State/UT Governments and implementing agencies under their purview have  started  taking  initiatives  towards  implementation  of  NEP  2020.  During  implementation, few States had expressed their concerns on certain issues related to the NEP, 2020. To address their  concerns  and  also  to  discuss  innovative  ideas  for  NEP  implementation,  a  series  of workshops / consultation-cum-review meetings have been held with States/UTs.
- (f):  The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  is  implementing  the  initiative  of Vocationalisation of School Education under the umbrella of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Samagra Shiksha'. The scheme aims at integrating Vocational Education with general academic education in all Secondary/Senior Secondary  schools; enhancing the Employability and Entrepreneurial abilities of the students, providing exposure to work  environment; and generating  awareness  amongst  students  about  various  career  options  so  as  to  enable  them  to make a choice in accordance with their aptitude, competence and aspirations. The scheme covers Government  and  Government  aided  schools.  Under  the  Scheme,  National  Skill  Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant vocational courses are offered to the students from class 9th to 12th in the schools covered under the scheme.

In order to fulfill various objectives of NEP 2020, the existing scheme of Samagra Shiksha has been  revamped  and  various  new  interventions  relating  to  Vocational  Education  have  been incorporated. Some of them are as under:-

- Coverage of Vocational Education has been expanded to cover Government aided schools also in addition to Government Schools.
-  Hub  and  Spoke  Model  of  Vocational  Education  has  been  introduced  providing  for  the utilization of the infrastructure available in the Hub schools by the students of nearby schools (spoke schools) for vocational training.
- Exposure of pre-vocational education at Upper Primary level.
- Internships, bagless days etc., have been included under Innovation component of Samagra Shiksha.

(g) and (h): Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) is one of the foremost rights based Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).  As per the provisions of National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, children studying in classes IVIII or within the age group of 6-14 years are entitled to one mid day meal free of charge, every day except on school holidays, in all schools run by local bodies, Government and Government aided schools so as to meet nutritional standards specified in the Act. Accordingly, hot cooked meal is provided to eligible children on all working school days under PM POSHAN Scheme (earlier known as National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools). The following  nutritional content is prescribed in the Scheme:-

| Components   | Primary   | Upper Primary   |
|--------------|-----------|-----------------|
| Calories     | 450 Cal   | 700 Cal         |
| Protein      | 12 gms.   | 20 gms.         |

There  is  no  provision  of  breakfast  in  the  Scheme.  However,  some  States  and  UTs  provide additional items such as milk, egg, fruits etc. to students from their own resources.

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