Question : Scheme to Improve Quality of Education

(a) whether the Government has formulated or proposes to formulate any scheme to improve
quality of education and to bring it at par with international educational institutes;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has finalized the new education policy as well as the task to impart
education through digital means;
(d) if so, the details along with the salient features thereof;
(e) whether any time limit has been fixed for presentation of report by the expert committee;
(f) if so, the details thereof;
(g) the time by which the said scheme is likely to be implemented along with the total amount
allocated or likely to be allocated in this regard; and
(h) the details thereof?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a) and (b): Improving the quality of education across all levels from primary to university level is
a continuous and ongoing process. Several initiatives are currently being undertaken in this
direction. The Samagra Shiksha, an integral scheme for School Education as a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme is being implemented throughout the country with effect from the year 2018-19. This
programme subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
(SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha (RSMA) and Teacher Education (TE). It is an overarching
programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII and aims to
ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education. It envisages the
‘school’ as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper primary, secondary to senior secondary
levels.
In higher education also, various schemes, namely, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan
(RUSA), Scheme for promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), Global
Initiative for Academics Network (GIAN), Impacting Research, Innovation & Technology
(IMPRINT), Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP), Pandit Madan
Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT), Study Webs of
Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM), National Digital Library, campus
connect programme, Uchhatar Avishkar Abhiyan, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Impactful Research in
Social Sciences (IMPRESS), Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA),
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are being implemented to improve the quality
of higher education. A number of initiatives are also undertaken by UGC and AICTE for quality
improvement in higher and technical education.
(c) to (h): Currently, The Government is in the process of formulating a new National Education
Policy for meeting the changing dynamics of the population’s requirement with regard to quality
education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping
its students with the necessary skills and knowledge and to eliminate the shortage of manpower in
science, technology, arts and industry. For this purpose, it carried out a highly participative,
inclusive and multi-pronged consultation process, through online, grassroots and thematic expert
consultations. The Committee for the Draft National Education Policy under the Chairmanship of
Dr. K. Kasturirangan submitted its report to the Ministry on 31st May 2019. There has been wide
publicity and positive feedback from all stakeholders. More than 2 lakhs suggestions and inputs
have been received on the Draft National Education Policy, 2019. Accordingly, Ministry is in the
process of finalizing the National Education Policy, 2020. At this stage, it is premature to highlight
the salient features of the proposed National Education Policy.
The requirement of funds would be estimated after finalisation of the Policy. Government is
committed to implement the Policy by making suitable budgetary allocations.
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