Education in 2022: Pradhan Mantri schools, PM SHRI schools; Ministry of education gives year-end review

NEW DELHI: The ministry of education releases its year-end review. The review includes Samagra Shiksha Scheme, national education policy (NEP) 2020, Pradhan Mantri schools for rising India (PM-SHRI) yojana, Pariksha pe charcha, among others.

According to the review report, 4,44,531 schools were awarded the Fit India flag while 43,074 schools have applied for 3 Stars Rating and 13,008 schools applied for 5 Stars rating. The fourth edition of the FIT India School Week is being celebrated from November 15, 2022 till January 15, 2023. As of December 19, 2022, a total 1,17,844 students participated in various activities.

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In addition to this, as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, NITI Aayog organized a virtual event on assistive technology startups for inclusive education showcasing innovations and startup solutions on January 17, 2022. The fifth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha was held on April 1, 2022 where prime minister Narendra Modi and students along with teachers and parents held an interactive programme. The selection for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022 was carried out through a creative writing competition for the students of classes 9 to 12, teachers and parents on myGov.in portal from December 28, 2021 to February 3, 2022.

The department of school education (DoSEL) and literacy also has introduced Shiksha Shabdkosh, a document on glossary of various terminologies in school education and a compilation of all the terms which have been used in this context.

Samagra Shiksha

This centrally-sponsored scheme of 'Samagra Shiksha' by the department of school education and literacy is a programme for pre-school to class 12 and is in line with NEP 2022. The programme has been extended from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Under this programme, the information and communication technology (ICT) department provided curriculum-based interactive multimedia, digital books, virtual labs etc. across the country. Smart classrooms and ICT labs were established with support for hardware, educational software and e-content for teaching. Since its inception till November 2022, ICT labs have been approved in schools and smart classrooms in 82,120 schools across the country.

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PRASHAST Mobile App– 'Pre Assessment Holistic Screening Tool'

The department of school education and literacy launched disability screening checklist for schools and an Android mobile app called 'PRASHAST'. The app developed by NCERT and CIET will help in screening 21 disability conditions recognized in RPwD Act, 2016, at the school level and will generate the school-wise report, for further sharing with the authorities for initiating the certification process, as per guidelines of Samagra Shiksha.

Exam accommodations to children with special needs (CwSN) in Board Exams

DoSEL organised virtual inclusive education meets on January 31, 2022 and June 9, 2022 to review the status of board accommodations offered to CwSN. As per the report, 32 out of 36 states and UTs have notified the exam accommodations provided to CWSN to be availed in board exams , 20 states and UTs prepared audio and video films on exam accommodations provided to CWSN in board exams and 27 states and UTs conducted webinars to sensitize teachers and principals on exam accommodations.

Pradhan Mantri schools for rising India (PM-SHRI) yojana

The cabinet approved the newly-central sponsored scheme PM SHRI on September 7, 2022. the schools under the scheme will showcase the implementation of NEP 2020 and offer leadership to other schools in the neighborhood. Under PM-SHRI scheme , there is a provision of setting up of over 14,500 PM SHRI schools by strengthening the existing schools managed by central government, state, UT government and local bodies. More than 20 lakh students are expected to be direct beneficiaries of the scheme. The total cost of the project will be Rs 27,360 crore spread over a period of 5 years including central share of Rs 18,128 crore.

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Adult Education

In line with NEP 202, 'New India Literacy Programme' (NILP) was approved by the central government in this year with financial outlay of Rs 1,037.90 crore. The scheme has five components- foundational literacy and numeracy, critical life skills, vocational skills development, basic education and continuing education.

The NLEP provides for the following-

• The involvement of school students, pre-service students of higher Eeucation institutions (HEIs), school teachers, Aganwadi and ASHA workers, NYKS, NSS, NCC volunteers,
• The age groups of 15-35 years will be saturated first, followed by ages 35 and above. A priority will be given to girls and women, SC, ST, OBC, minorities, persons with special needs, disabled persons, marginalised, nomadics, construction workers, labourers, among others.
• The use of ICT and online implementation of the scheme through ‘online teaching learning and assessment system’ (OTLAS) will be offered.
• Material and resources through digital modes such as TV, radio, phone-based, open-source apps, portals, etc.
• Assessment tests must conducted in schools along with assessment on demand through OTLAS and generation of e-certificates,
• Sample achievement survey to be held every year for 500-1000 randomly selected learners from each state and UT.
• Online MIS will be used to track the progress and monitoring of progress shall be undertaken at national, state, district and school levels through online mode.

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Other Initiatives

• Amendment in RTE Act, 2009 for special educators in schools where one special education teacher is allotted for every ten pupils with disabilities enrolled at primary level and one special education teacher for every fifteen pupils with disabilities enrolled at upper primary level.
• The existing Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) at upper primary level and Girls' Hostels at secondary/senior secondary level, were upgraded.
• 'Parakh' will be set up as a standard-setting body under ministry of education in NCERT to setting norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognized school boards of India, and states undertaking the national achievement survey (NAS).
• PM Poshan scheme with the financial outlay of central share of Rs.54,061.73 crore focus areas such as public financial management system, quality and safety aspects, social audit, joint review mission, school nutrition gardens, cooking competitions, TithiBhojan, supplementary nutrition in aspirational districts and districts having high burden of malnutrition, information, education and communication (IEC) among others.
• In celebration of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day-2022 over 86 lakh students participated in several suggested activities by the DoSEL.
• 24,073,728 students from class I to X participated in the Mandatory Art-Integrated Project– CBSE programme by submitting their reports. While 4,31,503 students from 1,843 schools participated in expression series on art and culture-CBSE and 4,315 entries have been received by the Board.
• The annual UDISE+ report on education sector was also released.