What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial  1 : A New Classroom

Context: Behind NEP’s success story, the real heroes.

 

Introduction: As highlighted in the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), the positive trends across Indian states on foundational learning outcomes reflects a focused effort by the Indian government to prioritise quality education.

 

Key Highlights of ASER 2024

• Positive Trends in Foundational Learning
  1. Improvement in foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) outcomes, especially in Grade III, across Indian states.
  2. Significant progress in reading and basic math skills among students.
• State-Level Improvements
  1. Uttar Pradesh
     • Grade III students’ ability to read Grade II-level texts increased from 24% to 34%.
     • Proficiency in solving subtraction problems improved from 29% to 41%.
  2. Odisha: Use of contextualised workbooks led to similar gains in foundational learning.

 

Role of NIPUN Bharat Mission

• Objective: Launched in 2021, the mission aims to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27.
• Key Interventions
  1. Teaching-Learning Materials (TLM): Allocation of Rs 500 per child for TLMs to create engaging and vibrant lessons.
  2. Teacher Capacity Building: States receive Rs 5,000 per teacher for workshops and Rs 150 for resource materials.
  3. Assessment and Monitoring: States are provided Rs 10-20 lakh for comprehensive assessments and tracking learning outcomes.
  4. Project Management Units (PMUs): Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1 crore allocated for establishing PMUs at state and district levels for effective implementation.

 

Impact of NIPUN Bharat

• Improved Learning Outcomes: Millions of children across India can now read and solve basic math problems.
• Teacher Empowerment: Innovative teaching methods, such as using songs and contextualised materials, have enhanced classroom engagement.
• Success Stories
  1. Uttar Pradesh: Ravi Sharma, a primary school teacher, uses songs to teach mathematics.
  2. Odisha: Students like Shragatika Ghosh, a second-grader, proudly reads Odia stories aloud, her confidence growing with each page.

 

Challenges and Gaps

• Fragility of Foundational Learning
  1. Many children struggle with advanced concepts as they transition to higher grades.
  2. Marginalised communities often lack school readiness and foundational skills.
• Systemic Issues: Sustaining progress requires long-term commitment and systemic reforms.

 

Way Forward: Recommendations for NIPUN 2.0

• Extend Timeline: Extend NIPUN Bharat’s mission to at least 2030 to deepen its impact.
• Expand Focus: Include Grades III–V to bridge the gap between foundational skills and higher-order learning.
• Invest in Early Childhood Education (ECE): Strengthen preschool education to prepare children for primary school.
• Global Benchmarking: Use NIPUN Bharat as a model to set global standards in foundational learning.

 

Conclusion

The ASER results prove that progress is possible. With the right tools, resources and policies, India can ensure that every child, regardless of geography or circumstance, has access to quality education. India has the chance to set a global benchmark in foundational learning. But the window for action is narrow. The time to commit to NIPUN 2.0 is now.