Learning outcomes aligned with textbooks: Govt

Srinagar, Mar 19: The J&K government on Wednesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the School Education Department (SED) has aligned the learning outcomes with the textbooks up to elementary level while quality of education was being upgraded in terms of infrastructure, Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF), RTE Entitlements to ensure progress in implementation of National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.

This was stated in a written reply of the education minister Sakina Itoo to a question raised by MLA Ahsan Pardesi regarding implementation of NEP-2020 by SED. The government in its written reply further stated that NEP-2020 was being implemented in J&K.

“As part of its implementation, the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, GoI has developed an indicative and suggestive plan called Students and Teachers Holistic Advancement through Quality Education (SARTHAQ), which delineates the roadmap and way forward for implementing NEP 2020,” the government in a written reply informed the House.

The reply reads that SARTHAQ links recommendations with specific tasks, responsible agencies, timelines and expected outputs. “There are 297 tasks as per SARTHAQ document. A UT level Task Force for implementation of National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 has been constituted by the General Administration Department in September 2020,” it reads.

The government said it has achieved certain progress in implementation of NEP, 2020 in respect of the School Education Department (SED). The government informed the House that the curricular and pedagogical structure of the school education system- 5 3 3 4 (15 years) has been implemented by establishing Kindergartens (KG) classes in 13805 Government schools.

“Student assessment and evaluation scheme has been notified on December 22 of 2022 while learning outcomes have been aligned with the textbooks up to elementary level and quality of education is being upgraded in terms of infrastructure, Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) and RTE entitlements,” the written reply reads. It reads that the training, based on Learning Outcomes, Summative assessment for class 1st to class 8th are imparted according to learning outcomes.

“Grade wise supplementary material has been developed and provided to all students from 1st to 5th classes so that the learning gaps identified in National Assessment Survey (NAS) 2023 are bridged,” it reads. The government further informed that over 30000 school teachers have been trained by District Institutes of Education & Training (DIETS) for the purposes. “15 different trades of vocational education have been introduced in 1350 Secondary and Senior Secondary schools with an enrollment of 137450 students,” the government in its written reply said. The government said the remaining schools shall be covered under vocational education during the next financial year.