Parliament Question: Improving the Quality of Education in Government Schools

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-207 ANSWERED ON –20/07/2026 Improving the Quality of Education in Government Schools 207. Shri Aashtikar Patil Nagesh Bapurao: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to improve the quality of education in Government schools in the country; (b) if so, the details of schemes currently being implemented by the Government to enhance learning outcomes and teacher training; (c) whether the Government proposes to increase funding for digital education and school infrastructure, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps being taken by the Government to reduce dropout rates, particularly among girls and students from economically weaker sections? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) & (b): The Department of School Education & Literacy is implementing an integrated scheme for school education - Samagra Shiksha, which covers the entire gamut from pre- school to class XII. The scheme treats school education as a continuum and has been aligned with the recommendations of NEP 2020 to ensure that all children have access to quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which should take care of their diverse background, multilingual needs, different academic abilities and make them active participants in the learning process. Samagra Shiksha focuses on improvement of quality of education by providing support for different interventions to all States and UTs, like in-service training of teachers and school heads, composite school grant to every school for providing a conducive learning environment, support for children with special needs(CwSN), grants for library, sports and physical activities, support for Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, Tinkering Labs, ICT and digital initiatives, school leadership development programme, remedial teaching for academically weaker students, introduction of new pedagogical and curricular structure, NIPUN Bharat Initiative, child friendly and inclusive classrooms including ECCE facilities, Strengthening ofSchool Management Committees(SMCs) and community led initiatives and Experiential and Competency based Learning aligned with NCFs etc. Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) schools are being set up as NEP 2020 exemplar schools and are expected to become the template for other schools. The Government of India conducts large-scale assessments to measure learning and education outcomes across the country from time to time. The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 was undertaken in December, 2024 by the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH, NCERT under the aegis of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education to understand the baseline performance under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in development of competencies among the students at the end of the Foundational, Preparatory, and Middle stages (Grades 3, 6, and 9 respectively). The Department has also implemented NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement) as an integrated teacher training programme on DIKSHA, covering modules on digital pedagogy, use of ICT tools and technology-enabled learning. Further, NCERT, SCERTs, DIETs, BRCs and CRCs undertake development of resource material, digital content, training programmes and workshops to strengthen teachers’ preparedness for digital education. (c): The Central Government provides financial assistance to States/UTs under the Centrally sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha for strengthening of existing government schools for creation and augmentation of infrastructure facilities like toilets, clean drinking water, electricity, library, laboratories and for setting up of ICT labs and smart classrooms in Government and Government Aided Schools having classes VI to XI, based on Annual Work Plan & budget(AWP&B) proposals prepared by them as per their needs and priority and gaps determined from Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) database. These plans are then appraised and approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) in the Department in consultation with the State/UT as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme, physical and financial progress of works sanctioned earlier and availability of budgetary resources. (d): Under Samagra Shiksha, there is a dedicated Inclusive Education component for various interventions such as Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBVs) residential schools from class VI to XII, for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups such as SC, ST, OBC, Minority and Below Poverty Line (BPL), Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas which provide residential facilities for both girls and boys belonging to Socio Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs). Further, the educational needs of children from the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are addressed through the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) Schemes, provision of transport allowance and undertaking enrolment & retention drives.Special training for age-appropriate admission of out of school children and residential as well as non-residential training for older children, seasonal hostels / residential camps, special training centres at worksites, transport/ escort facility etc. are also supported to bring out of school children to the formal schooling system. Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, provision for free textbooks and uniforms are provided to children from SEDGs. Further, Section 12 of RTE Act, 2009 provides for 25% seats to be provided to EWS category of students in private-unaided schools. Further, the Government also provides merit scholarship under the National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme @ Rs. 12,000/- per annum, from Classes IX to XII to children whose family income is below Rs. 3.5 lacs per annum to enable children from SEDGs to complete their schooling upto secondary level. *****