Question : Corruption in Primary Education

(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?

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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