MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OFHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) to (e):The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
conducts periodic national surveys of learning achievement of children in classes III,
V &VIII. Four rounds of National Achievement Survey (NAS) have been conducted
so far for class V. These surveys reveal improvement in learning achievement levels
of pupils, in identified subjects from first round to fourth round. Further, a National
Achievement Survey based on learning outcomes has been conducted on 13th
November, 2017 with a sample frame upto district level to enable states/UTs to
identify gaps in learning outcomes at district level and design strategies to address
those gaps. District reports are available along with learning gaps for each district.
In order to focus on quality education, the Central rules to the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act have been amended to
include reference on class-wise, subject-wise Learning Outcomes. The Learning
Outcomes for each class in Languages (Hindi, English and Urdu), Mathematics,
Environmental Studies, Science and Social Science up to the elementary stage
have, accordingly, been finalized and shared with all States and UTs. These would
serve as a guideline for State and UTs to ensure that all children acquire appropriate
learning level. Government has also introduced a bill to amend RTE Act, 2009 to
allow states the option of deciding regarding detention at Class V or Class VIII or
neither.
Further, Section 23(2) of the RTE Act has been amended to extend the period
for training of untrained in-service elementary teachers to 31st March, 2019. As per
above amendment, all untrained in-service teachers working in Government,
Government aided and Private un-aided schools should acquire minimum
qualification as laid down by an academic authority, authorized by the Central
Government, by 31st March, 2019. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
has been entrusted to conduct this training through ODL (Open Distance Learning)
mode. The online D.El.Ed. course has already been started from 3rd October, 2017.
In addition to above, the Central Government, supports States and UTs on
early grade reading, writing and comprehension, and early Mathematics
programmes through a sub-programme of SSA namely ‘Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat’
(PBBB). Further, the Government has launched Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyan(RAA)
programme on 09.07.2015, inter alia, as a sub-component of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), to motivate and engage
children of the age group from 6-18 years in Science, Mathematics and Technology
through observation, experimentation, inference drawing, model building, etc. both
through inside and outside classroom activities.
The Central Government has an in-built robust monitoring process of Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). In the SSA framework, different components have been
elaborated with specific indicators. Monitoring is done with respect to the given
indicators under the framework. Further, 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 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. The States Governments are advised to check
the irregularities in the execution of the SSA programme and to take appropriate
corrective action.
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