NEW DELHI: Quality of education is a comprehensive term that includes learners, teachers, teaching learning process, learning environment, curriculum, pedagogy, learning outcomes, assessment, etc. To take cognizance of this, Government of India launched Samagra Shiksha-an Integrated Scheme for school education, w.e.f. 2018-19, as an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education. It subsumes the three erstwhile Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
Samagra Shiksha focuses on improvement in quality of education by providing support for different interventions like in-service training of teachers and school heads, conduct of achievement surveys at state and national level, composite school grant to every school for providing a conducive learning environment, grants for library, sports and physical activities, support for Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, ICT and digital initiatives, School Leadership development programme, remedial teaching for academically weaker students, support for Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat, etc.
National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been advised to take appropriate steps to review the National Curriculum Framework-2005. The Draft National Education Policy 2019 is presently under consideration. The revision of Curriculum, Syllabi and Textbooks for school education would depend on the finalization and approval of the New Education Policy.
Promoting Vocational Training in Schools (PVTS)
The Government is implementing the scheme of Vocationalisation of School Education under the umbrella of 'Samagra Shiksha - an integrated scheme for school education', a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Till 2018-19, the scheme of Vocationalisation of School Education has been implemented in 8654 schools.
The scheme of Vocationalisation of School Education covers 55 job roles in 19 sectors i.e. Agriculture, Apparel Made ups & Home Furnishing, Automotive, Banking Finance and Insurance Services, Beauty and Wellness, Construction, Electronics & Hardware, Healthcare, Information Technology / Information Technology Enabled Services (IT/ITeS), Media & Entertainment, Multi Skilling, Physical Education & Sports, Plumber, Power, Retail, Security, Telecom, Tourism & Hospitality, Transportation Logistics & Warehousing.
In order to equip the schools with the necessary infrastructure to impart digital education to the students, there is a provision for setting up of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories in Government schools for classes VI to XII under Samagra Shiksha. The scheme provides supports to the States & UTs to provide Tablets/Laptops/Notebooks/integrated teaching learning devices and open source operating systems.
It also includes support for digital boards, smart classrooms, virtual classrooms on pro-rata basis for number of schools approved and for development & provision of digital content. 106454 schools have so far been approved under the ICT component till 2019-20.
On Promoting Physical Education (PPE)
As per the National Curriculum Framework, 2005, Health and Physical Education is a Compulsory subject from Class I to X. In this regard, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has brought out material for Class VI, VII and VIII as Teachers Guide and for Class IX Textbooks on Health and Physical Education (HPE). In addition, Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) has introduced a streamlined and well designed Health and Physical Education (HPE) Program to mainstream health and physical education in schools for students of class I - XII. The schools have been directed to reserve one period per day for HPE/ sports. This program is compulsory for all affiliated schools of CBSE.
Department of School Education and Literacy has launched an Integrated Scheme for School Education-Samagra Shiksha, with effect from 1st April, 2018. The new integrated scheme envisages school education as a continuum from pre-school to senior secondary level and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels.
Realizing the need for holistic development of children, under the Samagra Shiksha, Sports and Physical Education component has been introduced for the first time for encouragement of Sports, Physical activities, Yoga, Co-curricular activities etc.
Committee for the Draft National Education Policy (NEP) under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan submitted its report to the Ministry on 31st May 2019. The Draft NEP states that all school subjects will be considered curricular rather than extra-curricular or co-curricular, including sports, yoga etc.
Further, it states that all students at all levels of school will have regular periods and opportunities to participate in physical activity and exercise, including sports, games, yoga, martial arts, dance, gardening, and more, in accordance with local availability of teachers and facilities.
