Lok Sabha Question No. 538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Universalisation of Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-538

ANSWERED ON 24/07/2023

## Universalisation of Education

## 538. SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  New  Education  Policy  2020  is  based  on  the  vision  of universalisation of education from pre-school to secondary level and aims to provide quality and equitable education to all;

(b) if so, the present status of implementation and the target year to start the new curriculum and pedagogical structure of education process thereof; and

(c)  the  proposal  of  the  Government  to  start  unilateral  system  and  one  pattern  education  to ensure common education systems in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a)  and  (b):  National  Education  Policy  2020  aims  at  a  concerted  national  effort  to  ensure universal  access  and  afford  the  opportunity  to  all  children  of  the  country  to  obtain  quality holistic  education  -  including  vocational  education  from  pre-school  to  Grade  12.  The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education 'Samagra Shiksha' has now 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.

NEP 2020 envisages to reconfigure the curricular and pedagogical structure of school education  to  make  it  responsive  and  relevant  to  the  developmental  needs  and  interests  of learners at different stages of their development, corresponding to the age ranges of 3-8, 8-11, 11-14,  and  14-18  years,  respectively.  The  curricular  and  pedagogical  structure  and  the curricular framework for school education is to be guided by a 5+3+3+4 design, consisting of the Foundational Stage (in two parts, that is, 3 years of Anganwadi/pre-school + 2 years in primary school in Grades 1-2; both together covering ages 3-8), Preparatory Stage (Grades 35,  covering  ages  8-11),  Middle  Stage  (Grades  6-8,  covering  ages  11-14),  and  Secondary Stage  (Grades 9-12 in two phases, i.e., 9 and 10 in the first and 11 and 12 in the second, covering ages 14-18).

As  per  para  4.30  of  NEP  2020,  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and Training (NCERT) under the Ministry of Education has initiated the process of development of  National  Curriculum  Frameworks  (NCF)  where  in  inputs  are  invited  from  various stakeholders including various Ministries/Departments, States and UTs drawing from grass root  levels.  The  details  on  the  developments  on  NCF  may  be  found  at  the  link  given: https://ncf.ncert.gov.in/#/web/home

The  National  Curriculum  Framework  for  Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education (NCFECCE),  called  Foundational  Stage  is  one  of  the  four  stages  of  National  Curriculum Framework  (NCFs).  The  NCF  for  Foundational  Stage  (NCFFS)  has  been  developed  by NCERT through an extensive consultative process with States & UTs up to grass root level and various institutions and organisations. It was released by Hon'ble Education Minister on 20th Oct 2022 at New Delhi. Contents and Updates on NCFECCE are available on the given link: https://ncf.ncert.gov.in/#/web/documents

As  per  NEP  2020,  implementation  of  the  Policy  requires  multiple  initiatives  and actions,  which  are  to  be  taken  up  in  a  synchronized  and  systematic  manner,  by  multiple bodies  including  Ministry  of  Education,  CABE,  State/UT  Governments,  education-related Ministries,  State  Departments  of  Education,  Boards,  NTA,  the  regulatory  bodies  of  school and  higher  education,  NCERT,  SCERTs,  schools  and  HEIs.  The  policy  provides  different timelines  for  important  themes/sub-sets  as  well  as  principles  and  methodology  for  its implementation. Accordingly, this Ministry has communicated to all States/UT Governments for taking steps for implementation of NEP 2020 in letter and spirit. Further, in pursuance of the goals and objectives of the NEP 2020 and to assist States, UTs and other organisations in this  task,  the  Department  of School Education &  Literacy has developed an indicative and suggestive  NEP  Implementation  Plan  for  School  Education,  'Students'  and  'Teachers' Holistic  Advancement  through  Quality  Education  (SARTHAQ)'.  The  major  focus  of SARTHAQ is to define activities in such a manner which clearly delineate goals, outcomes and timeframe. Details of SARTHAQ are available on the given link:

https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/upload\_document/SARTHAQ\_Pa rt1\_updated.pdf

(c) Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and  NEP 2020 entrusts States to prepare  their  own  curricula  based  on  NCF  prepared  by  NCERT  to  the  extent  possible incorporating State flavor and material as needed.

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