While there has been an increase in education spending over the last five years, learning outcomes have been poor and have been declining. Analyse the statement and suggest effective guidelines to improve the situation. (200 words)
Refer – The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· The recent release of two educational surveys: 12th round of ASER and NCERT’s 5th National Achievement Survey (NAS) remained the same message as earlier editions—that the country faces a learning crisis.
· World Bank also warned that there is a learning crisis in education, especially in developing countries like India.
Suggestions
· Schools – Schools must provide an environment conducive to learning where children feel physically and mentally safe, encouraged to make and learn from mistakes, and be recognised and respected for their multiple talents apart from academic excellence.
· For example, Happy schools project launched by UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, with the aim of promoting happiness in schools through enhanced learner well-being and holistic development.
· Teachers – Teachers need to be equipped with the right training on effective techniques and they should be introduced to concepts such as differentiation, where each child learns according to his or her level.
· Teacher training must be practical and teachers must be provided feedback on the job.
· Involving parents – Encourage active parent participation in student learning.
· Establish regular, meaningful communication between home and school.
· Collaborate with parents to ensure that children have a supportive learning environment at school and at home.
· Civil society participation - Whether it’s public-private partnerships or NGO partnerships or State government knowledge sharing, more needs to happen.
· It takes a village to raise a child and it will take a nation working together to ensure that all children get the education they deserve.
· Determining quality – There aren’t enough real cases that demonstrate what good quality education means for every child in the classroom and raise the bar for what our education system should deliver.
· A clear determination of what good quality education looks like is the need of the hour.
· Implement success models - Scale programmes that demonstrate a considerable impact and not just run to the next innovation or pilot.
· Programmes must be rigorously evaluated for impact before they are scaled up.
