Question : School Education Quality Index

(a) whether the Government feels that there is a need to give priority to the expansion
and growth of education system in the Country;
(b) if so, the steps of the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has taken a decision to prepare a School Education
Quality Index on the basis of various achievements in education sector in all the
States across the Country;
(d) if so, the details of various issues selected for assessment purpose under the said
Index; and
(e) the agency which has been assigned/ being assigned the responsibility for making
assessment under the said Index?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) & (b). Yes, Madam. The Central Government through SSA and RMSA provides
assistance to States and UTs for growth and expansion of education system.
Since the inception of SSA in 2001 till 30.6.2016, 3.59 lakh new elementary
schools have been opened, construction of 2.90 lakh school buildings and 17.48 lakh
additional classrooms have been completed and 9.61 lakh school toilets constructed,
and 15.74 lakh teachers have been recruited. Further Since the inception of RMSA in
2009, 12394 new secondary schools have been approved and funds have been
provided for strengthening of 37,382 existing secondary schools. Under RMSA, 120284
teachers including Head Masters are approved till date.
(c) & (d). Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and NITI Aayog are jointly
working on a School Education Quality Index (SEQI) with the goal of institutionalizing
a focus on improving education outcomes at the State and UT level. The details of the
index are still under preparation.
(e). The data for the index will be uploaded by States and UTs. To monitor the SEQI
roll-out and to support the States and UTs, a Project Management Unit (PMU) will be
set-up at the National level.
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