Online Education in India : Lok Sabha Question

LOK SABHA

Online education

153. SHRI G.S. BASAVARAJ

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether there have been large number of drop outs in primary classes in rural India due to inability of poor families mostly of migrant labour to send their children to schools as discovered during the commencement of Academic Session 2021-22 and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether due to rising unemployment in rural areas, poor families find it difficult to provide their children in primary classes with smartphones and also to arrange for internet facilities at home and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government would consider re-opening of primary schools wherever the pandemic conditions have abated and if so, the details thereof?

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution. In order to prevent drop outs, lower enrolments and loss of learning, the Ministry of Education has issued guidelines for identification, smooth admission process and continued education of migrant children on 13th July, 2020, inter-alia, requesting the States to identify and enrol all such children without any procedural formalities and maintain a database of children so admitted.

Further, to ensure that children have access to education with quality and equity and to minimize the impact of the pandemic on school education in the country, the Department of School Education has shared guidelines dated 7th January, 2021 with all States/UTs which, among others, include identification of out of school children from age 6-18 years, enrolment drives and awareness generation, student support while schools are closed, continued Education for children with Special Needs (CWSN), student support on school reopening and Teacher capacity building.

 Also, a comprehensive Covid action plan has been shared with the States and UTs on 4th May 2021, outlining the role of local bodies, formation of nodal group at village/town level, conducting door-to-door/helpdesk-based/app based survey to identify out of school children, their mainstreaming and resource sharing.

(b) An Alternative Academic Calendar has been prepared for learning solutions grade 1 to 12 for both- a child with device and one without device. Also, where the internet facility is not available, Ministry of Education has taken many initiatives like One Class One Channel of SWAYAM PRABHA to impart education through TV and one DTH channel specifically for hearing impaired students in sign language, Community Radio Stations and a podcast called Shiksha Vani of CBSE, Textbooks, worksheet supplied to residence of learners, Handbook on 21st Century Skills, supporting setting up of mobile school, virtual studios, virtual class rooms in schools, etc.

(c) The Ministry of Home Affairs vide Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 30th September, 2020 has issued guidelines for re-opening of schools, after 15th October,2020, in a graded manner, for which the State/ UT Government may take a decision in consultation with the respective school/ institution management, based on their assessment of the situation. Accordingly, this Department has prepared and disseminated Standard Operating Procedure/ guidelines for Health and Safety protocols for Reopening of Schools and Learning with physical/ social distancing to all the States and UTs.