Year End Review 2024: Department of School Education & Literacy

1. SAMAGRA SHIKSHA

Overview

• An integrated centrally sponsored scheme for holistic school education
• Scope: Pre-primary to Class XII
• Aligned with: SDG-4 (Education) and NEP 2020
• Primary objective: Support RTE Act implementation

Key Financial Components

• Financial assistance to States/UTs for:
  1. Opening/strengthening schools up to senior secondary
  2. Construction of school buildings & additional classrooms
  3. Infrastructure development in northern border areas (Vibrant Village Programme)
  4. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas
  5. Hostels for PVTGs under PM-JANMAN
  6. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas

Major Achievements (2018-25)

1. Infrastructure Development:
   • 3,656 schools upgraded
   • 242 new residential schools/hostels
   • 80,105 schools strengthened
   • 35,457 separate girls’ toilets constructed
2. Educational Technology:
   • 138,802 schools covered under ICT & Digital initiatives
   • 9,477 schools covered under Vocational Education
3. KGBV Upgradation:
   • 313 KGBVs upgraded from Class VIII to X
   • 2,303 KGBVs upgraded from Class VIII to XII

2. PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India)

Scheme Details

• Launch: September 7, 2022
• Budget: ₹27,360 crore (5 years)
• Central Share: ₹18,128 crore
• Target: 14,500+ PM SHRI Schools

Implementation Status

• 33 States/UTs (including KVS & NVS) signed MoU
• 12,084 schools selected through Challenge Mode
  • Primary: 1,329 schools
  • Elementary: 3,340 schools
  • Secondary: 2,907 schools
  • Senior Secondary: 4,508 schools

Infrastructure Components

1. Primary & Elementary Level:
   • Bala features
   • Jadui Pitara
   • Child-friendly furniture
   • Outdoor play materials
2. Secondary & Senior Secondary:
   • Integrated Science Labs
   • Smart Classrooms
   • Computer/ICT Labs
   • Atal Tinkering Labs
   • Skill Labs
   • School Innovation Councils
   • Sports facilities

3. PM POSHAN

Scheme Overview

• Period: 2021-22 to 2025-26
• Coverage: Pre-school (Bal Vatika) to Class VIII
• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
• Implementation: Ministry of Education

NEP 2020 Alignment Features

1. Tithi Bhojan:
   • Community participation program
   • Special food on festivals/occasions
2. School Nutrition Gardens:
   • First-hand experience with nature
   • Supplementary micronutrients
3. Social Audit:
   • Mandatory in all districts
   • Community monitoring
4. Special Provisions:
   • Extra nutrition in aspirational districts
   • Focus on anaemia-prevalent areas
5. Community Engagement:
   • Cooking competitions for ethnic cuisine
   • FPO and Women Self Help Groups involvement

4. ULLAS (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram)

Program Structure

• Duration: FY 2022-23 to 2026-27
• Budget: ₹1,037.9 crore
  • Central Share: ₹700 crore
  • State Share: ₹337.90 crore

Components

1. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
2. Critical Life Skills
3. Basic Education
4. Vocational Skills
5. Continuing Education

Major Achievements

1. Digital Initiatives:
   • ULLAS Mobile App launched (July 29, 2023)
   • DTH Channel broadcasts in 29 languages
2. Participation:
   • 2+ crore learners registered
   • 39 lakh volunteer teachers
   • 88,89,654 certified literates
3. Milestone:
   • Ladakh: First fully literate administrative unit (June 24, 2024)
4. Financial Progress:
   • ₹159.67 crore released to States/UTs
   • ₹35.60 crore (Central Share) released for 2024-25

5. National Assessment Initiatives

PARAKH

1. Framework:
   • Set up under NCERT
   • Focus: Assessment standards and guidelines
2. Key Activities:
   • Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024
   • Development of Holistic Progress Card
   • Setting assessment standards
3. Coverage:
   • 23 lakh students
   • 88,000 schools
   • Grades 3, 6, and 9

6. New Educational Policy Implementation Initiatives

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

1. NIPUN Bharat Mission:
   • Launched: July 5, 2021
   • Goal: Universal foundational literacy by Grade 3 (2026-27)
   • Achievement: 88,89,654 certified literates through FLNAT

Multilingual Education

1. Implementation Status:
   • 104 Primers in Indian Languages
   • 25 new primers released (December 2024)
   • Focus on mother tongue instruction till Grade 5/8

Textbook Development

1. Current Progress:
   • Developed for Balvatika, Grades 1-3, 6
   • Available in Hindi, English, Urdu
   • Production increased: 5 to 15 crore books annually
2. Future Timeline:
   • Grades 4,5,7,8: Under development
   • Grades 9,11: 2025-26
   • Grades 10,12: 2026-27

7. Teacher Development Programs

ITEP (Integrated Teacher Education Programme)

• 4-year dual major degree
• Implementation: 64 institutions
• Admission: Through NCET
• Last exam: July 10, 2024

National Mission for Mentoring (NMM)

1. Key Developments:
   • Bluebook launched: March 9, 2024
   • Braille and Audio versions: July 29, 2024

NPST (National Professional Standards for Teachers)

• Guiding Document launched: March 9, 2024
• Focus: Professional development standards
• Accessibility: Braille and Audio versions available

8. Inclusive Education Initiatives

Support for Children with Special Needs

1. Financial Support:
   • ₹3,500 per CwSN annually
   • Girls’ stipend: ₹200 monthly
2. Infrastructure:
   • 58.5% schools: Ramps and handrails
   • 31.1% schools: CwSN friendly toilets
   • Accessibility Code: January 10, 2024
3. Educational Resources:
   • 4,250+ ISL videos
   • DIKSHA portal integration
   • PM eVidya channel access

CBSE Provisions

1. Exam Concessions:
   • Scribe facility
   • Compensatory time
   • Third language exemption
   • Flexible subject choice

9. Board Standardization Efforts

PARAKH Initiatives

1. National Level:
   • 26 school boards consultation
   • Regional workshops
   • Question paper standardization
2. Implementation Steps:
   • Template standardization
   • Assessment framework alignment
   • Teacher training programs

APAAR ID System

• Purpose: Academic credit accumulation
• Features:
  • Seamless institution transitions
  • Credit recognition
  • Prior learning assessment