MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. D. PURANDESWARI)
(a) to (c) The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) was
piloted in two Indian states i.e. Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in which
a total 4850 students of 15 years of age, participated. Out of total 74
countries/areas which participated under this programme, the State of Tamil
Nadu ranked 72 and State of Himachal Pradesh ranked 73. The purpose of this
pilot study was to build our capacity for international participation and
to understand the methodology and other aspects of the international survey.
(d) to (f) At the elementary education level, NCERT periodically conducts
Learner Achievement Surveys. To date NCERT has completed two rounds of
Learner Achievement Surveys in all subjects for classes III, V and VII/VIII.
In addition, the Programme Evaluation Organization (PEO) of the Planning
Commission had conducted an evaluation of the SSA programme in 2010, which
points to significant improvement in access and enrolment, as well as social
and gender equity in enrolment. The study has also pointed out that there has
been moderate improvement in the pupil teacher ratio and availability of
infrastructure. The quality of leaning, however, varies considerably between
States. Further, the implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which
is the country’s flagship programme for elementary education is subject to
bi-annual joint reviews by SSA’s Development Partners, namely the World Bank,
DFID and European Commission along with nominees of the Government of India.
To-date 15 Joint Review Missions have been held.
SSA Framework of Implementation has been revised to correspond with
the provisions of the RTE Act, 2009 and provides for several interventions to
improve the quality of elementary education, including inter alia opening new
schools, recruiting additional teachers, periodic in-service teacher training,
provision of textbooks and uniforms, regular academic support for learning
enhancement to teachers. Further, the Government has issued an Advisory to
State Governments on the implementation of section 29 of the RTE Act for
initiating curriculum reform, including (i) formulating age-appropriate
curricula and syllabi in keeping with the National Curriculum Framework
(NCF)-2005, (ii) maintaining subject balance, (iii) initiating textbook
contents and production reform, (iv) ensuring continuous and comprehensive
assessment for learning.
At the secondary level, Central Board of Secondary Education has
introduced Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation upto X standard in order
to impart holistic education and to promote quality education in all the
school affiliated to the Board. The Board has also made Class X Board
Examination optional for the students studying in Senior Secondary Schools.
During 11th Five Year Plan, in order to achieve universal access to secondary
education and improve its quality, a new centrally sponsored programme
“Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)†was launched in March,
2009 with a target to ensure universal access of secondary education by
2017(GER of 100%) and universal retention by 2020. Further, the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme ‘Information and Communication Technology in Schoolsâ€
was revised in 2010 to promote computer enabled learning and ICT usage
in Government and Government aid secondary and higher secondary schools
and thereby enrich teaching learning processes.
