MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a) & (b) The Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) (ASER) conducted by a private organization “PRATHAM” for elementary classes has reported decline in learning levels. However, the findings of the National Achievement Surveys (NAS) conducted periodically by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) at grades III, V and VIII show that there is a slight increase in learning levels of students over time.
(c) & (d) The dropout rate in all schools from classes I to X has declined from 68.6 % in 2000-2001 to 49.3% in 2010-11.
(e) The level of teaching/ learning in Government schools is set according to the syllabus/ curriculum defined by the State Boards whereas the Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
(f) No, Madam. In the KVs, 25% of the seats in Class I are earmarked for children of the weaker sections and disadvantaged groups.
(g) & (h) The administrative pattern as well as the curriculum in central sector schools, including the KVs, is different from the Government schools under the States/ Union Territories (UTs). However, the Ministry provides support to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Government schools in the States / UTs through its interventions under the programmes of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
