Page 706 - ES 2020-21_Volume-1-2 [28-01-21]

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• Padhna Likhna Abhiyan: An adult education scheme has been introduced in FY 2020-21 with
financial outlay of ` 142.61 crore with a target to make 57 lakh learners’ literate.

• During 2019-20, the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Programme in schools covered 11.59 crore
children enrolled in elementary classes (I-VIII) in 11.34 lakh eligible schools. During COVID-19
pandemic, it was decided to provide food grains and pulses, oil etc., (equivalent to cooking cost)
as a one-time special measure to eligible children during the summer vacations.

Box 2: National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

• Universalization of education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 per cent Gross
Enrolment Ratio (GER) in school education by 2030.
• To bring ` 2 crore out of school children back into the mainstream through universalization of
access and expanding the open schooling system.
• The current 10+2 system to be replaced by a new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure corresponding
to ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years, respectively
• Class 10 and 12 board examinations to be made easier to test core competencies rather than
memorized facts.
• School governance is set to change, with a new standards framework based on online self-
declaration in the public domain for both public and private schools.
• Emphasis on foundational literacy and numeracy, and no rigid separation between academic
streams, extra-curricular, vocational streams in schools.
• Vocational Education to start from Class 6 with Internships.
• Teaching up to at least Grade 5 to be in mother tongue/regional language, wherever possible. No
language will be imposed on any student.

• Assessment reforms with 360-degree Holistic Progress Card, tracking student progress for
achieving learning outcomes

• A new and comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for school education, Early
Childhood Care & Education, Teacher Education and Adult Education.
• By 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on School Education

10.10 Since March 2020, most of the schools are closed due to the COVID-19 induced
restrictions and children are taught online from their homes using available assets at home.
Access to data network, electronic devices such as computer, laptop, smart phone etc. gained
importance due to distance learning and remote working. As per Annual Status of Education
Report (ASER) 2020 Wave-1 (Rural), released in October 2020, percentage of enrolled children
from government and private schools owning a smartphone increased enormously from 36.5
per cent in 2018 to 61.8 per cent in 2020 in rural India. If utilized well, the resultant reduction
in the digital divide between rural and urban, gender, age and income groups is likely to reduce
inequalities in educational outcomes (Figure 2 and Figure 3). To enable this process, the
Government is implementing several initiatives to make education accessible to children during
this pandemic (Box 3).