Question : Quality Education

(a) the steps taken by the Government to ensure universalisation of secondary education, in absence of the extension of Right to Education Act 2009 and also, the concrete plans to ensure resource-rich, high quality secondary education, rather than open and distance education that can further widen inequality?

(b) whether there is any timeline for achieving 6% of GDP allocation for education and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is planning to recruit trained and qualified teachers, as recommended in the policy and the plans for infrastructure upgradation;.

(d) the measures taken by the Government to prevent drop-out of children, where there has been migration from mother tongue to a second language especially in North-East; and

(e) whether a substantive equality model of CEDAW framework is likely to be adopted for laying down guidelines for ensuring school safety and security for girls and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF EDUCATION

(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)

(a): In order to target Universalisation of Secondary Education, the Department of School Education & Literacy has launched the Integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha from 2018-19, which subsumes the erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education. The scheme provides support inter-alia to the States and UTs for upgradation and strengthening of schools, including secondary schools in un-covered areas, and various other initiatives for enhancing the quality of education such as Induction and In-service training of teachers and School Heads, Remedial teaching, conduct of assessment surveys, use of ICT in teaching-learning, innovative pedagogies, composite school grant for providing conducive learning environment, grant for library and sports etc. Further, the Learning Outcomes at the Secondary Stage have been developed by NCERT. It contains the competencies which learners should develop by the end of classes IX and X in all subjects.

(b): The National Education Policy 2020 states that the Centre & States will work together to increase the public investment in education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.

(c): The National Education Policy, 2020 emphasizes on teachers at the heart of the learning process and for enhancing at the earliest the quality of teacher education, recruitment of qualified teachers and their rational deployment so that all schools meet the prescribed PTR norms. Education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, the recruitment and service conditions of teachers are in the domain of respective State Government/UT Administrations. The Central Government through the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Samagra Shiksha provides support to the States and UTs as per the approved norms, for additional teachers in order to maintain appropriate Pupil Teacher Ratio at Elementary and Secondary levels of schooling, respectively.

Under Samagra Shiksha Scheme, support is given for strengthening of infrastructure of government schools at all levels.

(d): Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance is provided to the States and UTs for various activities to reduce number of dropouts, which include opening/strengthening of new schools upto senior secondary level, construction of school buildings & additional classrooms, setting up, up-gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, setting up of residential schools/hostels, free uniforms, free text books, transport allowance and undertaking enrolment drives, residential as well as non residential trainings etc. Financial assistance is also provided for Inclusive Education of children with special needs. Also, Mid-Day-Meal is provided to students at the elementary level of education.
(e): India signed the CEDAW on 30th July, 1980 and ratified it on 9th July, 1993. The Ministry of Education has issued detailed guidelines on safety and security of children vide letter dated 9th October, 2014 to all State and UT Governments to ensure safety and security of school children. These guidelines were reiterated on 11th September, 2017 to all States and UTs for institutionalizing and ensuring a safe, secure and vibrant environment in schools for children. Ministry of Education conducts specialized trainings for teachers and students on gender sensitization and awareness with regards to all kinds of abuse against children and the provision therein. Also, under Samagra Shiksha, support is given to states for providing self-defence training to girls of class 6 onwards.

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