Tag: dailyprompt-1898

“Baalpan ki Kavita initiative: Restoring Bhartiya rhymes/poems for young children”

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The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 emphasizes the critical importance of universal and high-quality Early Childhood Education along with the power of multilingualism and the importance of including children’s languages in primary education. To fulfil the vision of NEP 2020, the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education has launched “Baalpan ki Kavita initiative: Restoring Bhartiya rhymes/poems for young children” for preparing a compendium of nursery rhymes/poems in all Bhartiya Bhasha and also in English, focusing on content relevant to the Indian context. The purpose of this initiative is that the young children can have better learning at the Foundational stage by becoming familiar with the world around them through easily understandable and joyful poems and rhymes, in their mother tongue.

To further this initiative, the DoSE&L in collaboration with MyGov is inviting contribution to the “Baalpan ki Kavita initiative: Restoring Bhartiya rhymes/poems for young children”. The participants of the contest can send existing poems/rhymes popular in folklore (mentioning the name of the author) or newly composed joyful poems/rhymes under three categories:

  • Pre-primary (ages 3-6)
  • Grade 1 (ages 6-7)
  • Grade 2 (ages 7-8)

Entries are invited in all Indian language (Bhartiya Bhasha), also in English, and can include regional rhymes/poems that hold cultural significance in Indian context. The competition is starting from 26.03.2025 till 22.04.2025, on the MyGov website (https://www.mygov.in/). There is no entry fee for participation. Other details of the competition can be seen on MyGov website.

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Strengthening Inclusive Education: Block Resource Centres under Samagra Shiksha provides Essential Therapy Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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On the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day (April 2, 2025), the Ministry of Education, Government of India reaffirms its commitment to inclusive education by strengthening support systems for children with autism spectrum disorder in schools.

Through Block Resource Centres (BRCs), the government is ensuring that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) receive essential therapy services, specialized interventions, and learning support to help them reach their full potential.

Supported under the centrally sponsored scheme- Samagra Shiksha, the BRCs serve as dedicated resource centers, offering essential therapy-based interventions to support the physical, cognitive, and communicative needs of CwSN.

These include:

  • Occupational Therapy: Helps children develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and independence in daily activities.
  • Physiotherapy: Supports children with mobility challenges, improving posture, muscle strength, and physical coordination.
  • Speech and Communication Therapy: Supports children with delayed speech, difficulty in communication, or social interaction challenges, especially beneficial for children with autism.
  • Psychological & Behavioural Support: Provides emotional and behavioural counselling to enhance confidence, social interaction, and well-being.

BRCs are staffed with trained resource persons, special educators, and therapists who work closely with parents, teachers, and caregivers to create personalized intervention plans for children.

These centres also organize regular screening camps, parent counselling sessions, orientation/teacher training programs, assistive devices, appropriate Teaching-Learning Material (TLM), and aids & appliances etc. to ensure a holistic approach to inclusive education.

As envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the government is continuously strengthening these inclusive learning environments by integrating therapy services with classroom learning and ensuring accessible infrastructure, assistive devices, and digital learning solutions for CwSN across the country.

State and district education authorities are encouraged to maximize the utilization of Resource Centres and also collaborate with local health and social welfare departments to further expand support for children with diverse needs.

On this World Autism Awareness Day, the Ministry appeals to schools, educators, and parents to optimally utilise the services of BRCs for CwSN and also work together to promote awareness, acceptance, and meaningful inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorder.

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Environmental Studies as a subject in school curriculum

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National Curriculum Framework (School Education) 2023 has strongly recommended the inclusion of environmental education as an inter-disciplinary area of study in the school education. Accordingly, Environmental Education has been an integral component of school education, which is evident from the existing curriculum for school education. Concepts and concerns related to environment have been infused appropriately in different subject disciplines at all stages of school education.

Topics related to Environmental Education in the existing science textbooks for classes VI to XII are provided in the following table:

Sl. No.Class & SubjectName of Chapter
1Curiosity Textbook of Science, Grade 6Diversity in the living world, Nature’s Treasures
2VII ScienceForests: Our Lifeline
3VII ScienceWastewater Story
4VIII ScienceCoal and Petroleum
5VIII ScienceConservation of Plants and Animals
6X ScienceOur Environment
7XII BiologyOrganisms and Populations
8XII BiologyEcosystem
9XII BiologyBiodiversity and Conservation

NCERT has also prepared supplementary materials for students and teachers related to environmental education. Some of the resource materials are provided below:

Sl. No.Title of Resource Material
1Project Books in Environmental Education for Classes VI to X (Hindi, English and Urdu version)
2Water: Every Drop Counts (Activity book for Primary, Upper Primary and Secondary Stages) (Hindi and English)
3Teachers’ Handbook in Environmental Education for the Higher Secondary Sage

The Department of Education in Science and Mathematics (DESM), NCERT organizes National Science Exhibition every year wherein the theme or sub-theme invariably includes environment component. This event provides opportunity to students to provide solutions for environmental problems—present and future in the form of exhibits/ models such as on waste management, conservation of resources, green technologies, etc. The DESM also organizes the Rashtriya Avishkar Saptah every year during which students in middle and secondary stages in different parts of the country participate in the event and perform experiments/ activities on the theme assigned for the year such as testing of water quality, soil quality, conservation of water, tree plantation etc. Such experiments/ activities promote learning-by-doing and at the same time develop environmental awareness amongst students.

 The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes the critical importance of integrating environmental awareness and sustainability principles into school curricula. The Policy aims to sensitize students to environmental / climate change concerns and inculcate among students the values, attitudes, behaviour and skills essential to address environmental challenges, thus preparing them to contribute to a sustainable future.

In alignment with this vision, Eco Clubs serve as a critical platform within schools, providing students with the opportunity to develop practical skills and knowledge for the responsible use of natural resources. Through participation in activities such as optimizing water usage, minimizing waste generation, recycling, and conducting plantation drives, students learn sustainable practices that they can implement both within and beyond the school environment. Eco Clubs empower students to act as environmental ambassadors, extending their impact to their families and communities by promoting sound environmental behaviour, such as reducing single-use plastics, conserving water, and participating in eco-friendly initiatives. Through these engagements, students gain a profound understanding of the shared responsibility to preserve and protect our planet, thereby advancing NEP 2020’s objective of nurturing environmentally conscious citizens for a sustainable India. The activities of Eco Clubs have been integrated with Mission LiFE, leading to their renaming as “Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE.” All the activities of Eco Clubs have been aligned with the seven themes of Mission LiFE (Save Energy, Save Water, Say No to Single Use Plastic, Adopt Sustainable Food Systems, Reduce Waste, Adopt Healthy Lifestyles and Reduce E-waste).

Efforts made by Ministry of Education to make ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047

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The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) announced on 29.07.2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and aims to address the many growing developmental imperatives of our country. The Policy proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including SDG-4, while building upon India’s traditions and value systems.

NEP 2020 envisions an education system rooted in Indian ethos that contributes directly to transforming India, that is Bharat, sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society, by providing high-quality education to all, and thereby making India a global knowledge superpower. Towards this, a number of transformative changes have taken place both in school and higher education after announcement of National Education Policy (NEP 2020).

Further recognizing research as core requisite for better education in line with vision of NEP 2020 Anusandhan National Research Foundation has been established which aims to provide high-level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture. It also seeks to promote scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences.

Ministry of Education has also been implementing various schemes to promote research and development in the Higher Educational Institutes of the Country which includes Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship scheme(PMRFs), Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT), Scheme for Trans-Disciplinary Research for India’s Developing Economy (STRIDE), Scheme for promotion of Research and Academic Collaboration (SPARC), National Initiative for Design Innovation (NIDI) and Scheme for Transformational and Advanced Research in Sciences (STARS). Also, PM-USHA aims at funding the State Government Universities and Colleges so as to improve the overall quality, including ‘Research Innovation and Quality Improvement’.

In pursuance to Para 60 of the Budget Announcement 2023-24 regarding “Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence” for the vision of “Make AI in India and make AI work for India”, Government has approved three Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial intelligence (Al), one each in the areas of health, agriculture and sustainable cities with a total financial outlay of Rs. 990.00 Cr over the period of FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28. Further, a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education with a total outlay of Rs. 500 crore has been included in the Budget Speech 2025-26.

Various schemes/projects/programmes of Ministry of Education have been aligned with NEP 2020 to realise the vision of making India a developed Nation by 2047.

EDUCATION FOR ALL

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The Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing an integrated centrally sponsored scheme for School education- Samagra Shiksha. The scheme treats school education holistically, without segmentation from pre-primary to class XII in alignment with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims 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.

Under Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for implementation of various provisions of Samagra Shiksha Scheme including  free uniform to eligible children at elementary level, free textbooks at elementary level, reimbursement under RTE Act, various qualitative components development of primers/textbooks for tribal language, teaching learning materials, transport/escort facility up to secondary level, 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 centers, age-appropriate residential and non-residential training, support to Out of School Children (16 to 19 years) for completion of education through NIOS/SIOS, Holistic Progress Card, bilingual teaching material and books.

Further, financial assistance is also provided to the States and UTs for  opening/strengthening of new schools upto senior secondary level, construction of school buildings & additional classrooms, development/strengthening of school infrastructure in northern border areas under Vibrant Village Programme, setting up, up-gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, setting up of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, construction of hostels for PVTGs under PM-JANMAN, construction of hostels under Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan for unsaturated ST population, strengthening of teacher education and strengthening of DIETs/BRCs/CRCs, provision of ICT and digital interventions.

Under the student-oriented component for the children with special needs, financial assistance is provided for identification and assessment of children with special needs, aids and appliances, braille kits and books, appropriate teaching learning material and stipend to girl students with disability etc. It also has provisions for creation of differently-abled friendly infrastructure such as ramps, ramps with handrails and differently-abled friendly toilets for barrier free access in schools. Further, to improve the identification of CwSN, the Government has introduced the Prashast App for early screening and identification of CwSN in regular schools. Teacher capacity building programs are being undertaken under NISHTHA in hybrid mode to train general teachers to address the learning needs of CwSN.

The New India Literacy Programme (NILP) popularly known as ULLAS – targets non-literates aged 15 years and above who have missed formal schooling and provide educational opportunities to them to make them literate. It is being implemented from FY 2022-23 to 2026-27. A dedicated ULLAS App has been created for registering learners and volunteer teachers. Till now, over 2.20 crore learners and more than 40 lakh volunteer teachers have registered on the app. The App also contains TLM in the form of ULLAS primers in all languages.

The Scheme supports creation and strengthening of infrastructure like, School buildings, Additional Classrooms, Toilets, Drinking Water, Ramp and Handrails, electrifications, Boundary wall, Science labs, Library Rooms, Computer Rooms, and Major Repairs works as per state requirements.

To bridge the gap between rural and urban areas in educational access, digital initiatives like ICT Labs, Smart Classrooms, PM e-Vidya including DIKSHA and SWAYAM PRABHA DTH-TV Channels are also being supported under the scheme.

The annual plans are prepared by the States and UTs as per their requirements/ priority including creation/ strengthening of infrastructure, support to teachers’ salary etc. and same is reflected in their respective Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) Proposals. These plans are then appraised and approved by the Project Approval Board (PAB) in the Department of School Education & Literacy in consultation with the States and UTs as per the programmatic and financial norms of the scheme and physical and financial progress of the State for the interventions approved earlier.