Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-07
Subject: Corruption in Primary Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 111 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th  December, 2015

## Corruption in Primary Education

## †*111. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  standard  of  primary  education  particularly  in Government schools is dwindling over a period of time;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is also aware of the alleged corruption in education system in various States including Uttar Pradesh at different levels including primary school level;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken in this regard; and
- (e)   whether the Government proposes to set up a regulatory mechanism to monitor the system     and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  111,  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  07.12.2015,  ASKED  BY  SHRI  KANWAR SINGH TANWAR, REGARDING CORRUPTION IN PRIMARY EDUCATION.

(a) & (b): The  enrolment  and  the  assessment  of  learning  levels  are  two  major  indicators  of standards  in  schools.    The  National  University  of  Educational  and  Planning  and  Administration (NUEPA)  annually  collects  information  as  part  of  the  Unified  District  Information  System  for Education  (UDISE) on various educational  indicators  including  Gross  Enrolment  Ratio  (GER),  Net Enrolment  Ratio  (NER)  and  retention  rate.      As  per  the  UDISE,  the  GER  at  primary  level  has marginally reduced from 103.77% in 2005-06 to 101.36% in 2013-14; the NER at primary level during the same period has increased from 84.53% to 88.08% and the retention rate has also increased from 71.01% to 82.38% during the same period.

The National Achievement Surveys (NAS) for classes - III, V and VIII are conducted by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) at regular intervals under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme in Government and Government aided schools. NAS is a sample based survey, designed to check the health of the educational system and provide information about the  learning  achievement  of  students.    Three  rounds  of  National  Achievement  Surveys  have  been conducted  so  far.    These  reveal  improvement  in  learning  achievement  levels  of  pupils,  in  various subjects.      The  Statement  showing  achievement  levels  of  children  in  different  years  for  different classes is at Annexure-I.

To ensure learning outcomes in Government schools, the Central Government through SSA is supporting State and UTs on early grade reading, writing and comprehension and early mathematics programmes through a sub-programme namely 'Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat' at Classes 1 and 2, and at the upper primary level through support for Mathematics and Science teaching learning under the Rashtriya Abhiskar Abhiyan (RAA).

(c) to (e): Some instances of irregularities in the last three years that have come to light in various states, including in Uttar Pradesh under the SSA programme are at Annexure-II.

The irregularities under SSA have taken place in the execution of the programme for which appropriate corrective action has been taken by the State Governments.  Further, the Government of India has laid down a Financial & Procurement Manual for the programme to streamline the financial management system and provide for an annual audit by Chartered Accountants empanelled with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, and also a system of concurrent financial reviews. Independent monitoring institutions conduct field level monitoring and there is a system of biannual independent  Joint  Review  Missions.  Component  wise  quarterly  reviews,  an  annual  Educational Management Information System (EMIS) and regular meetings are held with State officials to ensure effective implementation of the programme.

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## ANNEXURE-I REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  111  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  7 TH DECEMBER,  2015  ASKED  BY  SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR REGARDING CORRUPTION IN PRIMARY EDUCATION.

The Statement showing achievement level of children in different year for different classes

|             | Round -I   | Round -II   | Round -III   |
|-------------|------------|-------------|--------------|
| Class- III  | (2003-04)  | (2007-08)   | (2012-13)    |
| Maths       | 58.25      | 61.89       | 252 *        |
| Language    | 63.12      | 67.84       | 257 *        |
| Class- V    | (2001-02)  | (2005-06)   | (2009-11)    |
| Maths       | 46.51      | 48.46       | 247 *        |
| Language    | 58.57      | 60.31       | 251 *        |
| EVS         | 50.30      | 52.19       | 249 *        |
| Class- VIII | 2002-03    | 2007-08     | 2010-13      |
| Maths       | 39.17      | 42.58       | 245 *        |
| Language    | 53.86      | 56.50       | 247 *        |
| Science     | 41.30      | 42.72       | 251 *        |
| S.Science   | 46.19      | 47.90       | 247 *        |

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## ANNEXURE-II  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 111 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2015 ASKED BY SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR REGARDING CORRUPTION IN PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Instances of irregularities under SSA during 2011-12 to 2013-14.

| Name of States   | Year                     | Irregularity                                                                            | Amount Involved                                 | Remarks                                                                                                                                             |
|------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Jharkhand        | 2012-13 2013-14          | Complaint about mis- procurement of text books                                          | Rs. 99.02 crore                                 | Procurement procedures were not followed for text book & work book procurement. Govt. of India has stopped payment from SSA funds for 2013-14.      |
| Maharashtra      | 2012-13                  | Audit findings of fraudulent withdrawal                                                 | Rs. 10.00 lakh                                  | 4 employees suspended, services of 2 contract employees terminated. FIR lodged and matter is sub- judice.                                           |
| Uttar Pradesh    | 2011-12 2011-12& 2012-13 | Audit findings of fraudulent withdrawal in district Bulandshahr and District Pratapgarh | Rs. 29.85 lakh and Rs. 23.35 lakh Rs. 2.41 lakh | The FIR has been lodged and amount recovered. Committee has enquired and submitted report to State government.                                      |
| Rajasthan        | 2012-13                  | Audit findings of embezzlement by contract employee                                     | Rs. 3.00 lakh                                   | The matter is under investigation.                                                                                                                  |
| Odisha           | 2012-13                  | Audit findings of fraudulent withdrawal                                                 | About Rs. 4.00 crore                            | The FIR has been lodged. 2 employees terminated.                                                                                                    |
| Punjab           | 2013-14                  | Complaint about mis- procurement of library books                                       | Rs. 41.68 lakh                                  | Further payment has been stopped for library books from SSA funds.                                                                                  |
| Jammu & Kashmir  | 2012-13                  | Report of misuse of funds in Baramulla district.                                        | Rs. 99.55 lakh                                  | Officials involved in embezzlement have been placed under suspension on 10-12- 2013 and State Vigilance Department tasked to conduct investigation. |

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