Latest news with #NIPUNBharatMission
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
From massaging grandparents' feet to discussing contemporary topics: a unique summer homework for Haryana Govt school students
During their month-long summer vacation starting June 1, students from classes 1 to 5 in Haryana government schools will engage in assignments instead of conventional homework. And, instead of school teachers, parents will evaluate their children's performance based on engagement in these activities. According to officials, this year, traditional homework has been replaced with experiential learning, encouraging students to connect with their families and actively participate in domestic tasks. These will include massaging their grandparents' feet, listening to their stories, and contributing to household responsibilities. Officials said the approach aims to foster familial bonds, respect for elders, and hands-on learning, making summer vacations more enriching and enjoyable. Pramod Kumar, State Programme Officer, NIPUN, told The Indian Express Thursday, 'For decades, teachers have assigned homework focused on handwriting improvement and various project works. However, this time, students from classes 1 to 5 will engage in activities that align with their natural interests, contribute to household responsibilities, strengthen family connections, and show respect for their elders.' Haryana NIPUN is a state-level initiative launched in 2021 to align with the Central government's NIPUN Bharat Mission, aiming to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy in both Hindi and English for all children. 'Summer vacations are meant to be enjoyable for children. We have designed a special curriculum that enables them to learn and contribute meaningfully while having fun. They will be encouraged to sing traditional songs, listen to stories from their elders, and discuss contemporary topics, ranging from recent events like Operation Sindoor to everyday subjects such as the rising prices of gold,' Kumar added. The Haryana School Education Department has already provided teachers with a detailed outline regarding the summer vacation programme. Parents will be invited to visit schools in July to share their children's performance in these activities with teachers. 'For evaluation purposes, parents will observe their child's engagement in activities for 72 hours during the vacation period, grading them based on participation, effort, creativity, and learning. Simple tasks like neatly arranging bedsheets, pillows, and blankets after waking up will also be considered. This approach fosters parent-child interaction and promotes shared responsibility in the learning process,' said Kumar. He said this new plan replaces the conventional, monotonous homework with a more engaging, experiential, and joyful learning framework. He added as it is designed to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy in a practical, contextual manner, the holiday homework shifts the focus from rote memorisation to meaningful, hands-on, and reflective learning experiences. From June 1 to June 30, children will engage in activities aligned with their interests, hobbies, and natural surroundings. These tasks will include conserving electricity and water, observing plant growth, tracking weather changes such as rainfall and temperature, and familiarising themselves with digital tools like Google Pay, Paytm, Google Maps, and Duolingo. Additionally, they will be encouraged to mark days on calendars, explore regional languages such as Haryanvi and Punjabi, and participate in traditional games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and Antakshari. Officials said watching sunrises, moon phases, and stars will spark curiosity, while crafting toys and learning about natural cycles will foster a deeper, more joyful connection with science, the environment, and creativity — all seamlessly integrated with foundational learning objectives. Children's summer assignments will include civic and academic engagements, such as memorising Aadhaar and family phone numbers, learning the names of national and local leaders — including the Prime Minister, President, Chief Minister, MPs, and MLAs — and integrating core subjects like Mathematics, English, Hindi, Environmental Science, and Social Studies into their learning. Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Hans India
PAL Works: Launch of India's first collective to drive system-wide adoption of Personalised Adaptive Learning in school education
PAL Works, a pioneering body committed to accelerating the adoption of Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) across India's public education system, was launched today in New Delhi. This powerful coalition brings together EdTech innovators, education nonprofits, research experts, ecosystem enablers, funders and philanthropies, and supportive government bodies - uniting diverse expertise to transform learning outcomes for every child in India by leveraging Education Technology (EdTech) effectively. The nation stands at a pivotal moment in its education journey. With foundational learning receiving focussed attention under the Government of India's NIPUN Bharat Mission and digital adoption rapidly advancing across states, the opportunity to embed contextualised, evidence-based and tech-enabled solutions at scale has never been greater. In the presence of leaders from across the education ecosystem, the convening 'Learning for All, At Scale: Exploring the Role of Innovation, Tech, and Partnership' hosted by PAL Works, focussed on what it will take to make this vision a reality in India's classrooms. Why PAL Works and why now? Indian classrooms are highly diverse with students at varying learning levels, making it difficult for even the most skilled teachers to cater to each child's individual learning needs. As a result, many students struggle to keep pace with grade-level expectations, leading to widening learning gaps and even dropouts. Addressing this problem at scale is vital to realising the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'. PAL software solutions use technology to assess each student's learning level and deliver tailored instruction, adjusting content and pace in real time. This student-centric approach enables every child to learn at their own pace, significantly improving learning outcomes, up to two times what an average child in Indian learns in a year - especially for those who start out behind. PAL also empowers teachers with actionable data and supports the creation of more inclusive, effective classrooms across India. Multiple research studies have shown the effectiveness of PAL in diverse classrooms, including in Indian contexts. It has been endorsed by critical national education frameworks, including the ICT Framework for Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI Guidelines. PAL solutions are already being implemented across many states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, reaching thousands of schools, teachers and students. In a rapidly changing world, it is important to leverage technology at scale to accelerate the unique learning journey of each child in India. PAL clearly offers that possibility. PAL Works is committed to working with key stakeholders to help deliver the promise of education and progress to the nation. Quotes from leaders: 'Learning levels in Indian classrooms are highly heterogeneous, with students at diverse points on the learning curve. Heterogeneity also exists in the skills and strengths of teachers. Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) is proven to address this heterogeneity very effectively. I am hopeful that PAL Works will accelerate the growth of India's EdTech ecosystem, fostering collaboration and sustainable impact across the country.' - Dr. Santhosh Mathew, Country Lead - Public Policy and Finance, Gates Foundation 'The potential of PAL is nothing short of revolutionary. When implemented at scale, it transforms the classroom from a one-size-fits-all model to a dynamic environment where every child's learning journey is recognised and supported. For too long, schools across India have adopted EdTech solutions without evidence. It gives me immense pleasure to see the evidence-backed approach that PAL Works and its members are taking. To me, solutions like PAL, grounded in rigorous evidence, will chart the future of education in India.' - K. Sandhya Rani, Board Member- CRISP, Former Commissioner, School Education, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh "The launch of PAL Works marks a pivotal step in India's education ecosystem. This collective is bringing together the deep expertise of EdTech innovators, implementation muscle of technical partners, research capabilities from experts, and strong support of ecosystem enablers like Central Square Foundation. It hence has the potential to generate the much-needed momentum for an evidence-backed learning approach like PAL. Leveraging EdTech for learning is a core part of our system-reform work, and we are seeing early green shoots in student learning outcomes in states like Andhra Pradesh. We are excited about and committed to support the role that PAL can play in laying the foundation of a Viksit Bharat where all students learn and thrive.' - Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja, CEO and MD, Central Square Foundation
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
A change that's quietly taking root
There is a silent revolution unfolding in India's classrooms —but it may be our greatest economic investment yet: an education renaissance sparked by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It isn't driven by headlines or hype, but by the quiet force of human spirit—confidence, motivation, persistence, and faith. We've seen it playing out in front of our own eyes across the country. In a modest school in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, grade 3 children crowded around to read aloud—not out of obligation, but with a sense of pride. Once unsure about their potential, each sentence they read was a quiet declaration of their self-belief. In Haryana, a teacher sat alone in an empty classroom, poring over her lesson plan late into the afternoon. No one was watching, no one asked her to stay. Yet there she was—her quiet preparation a powerful act of purpose and motivation. In a sunlit anganwadi in Boraspet, Telangana, a worker played us a video she had created. Toddlers laughed and learned through playful routines she had designed herself. She didn't have fancy tools—just belief in her children and pride in her work. And at a cluster meeting of 52 teachers in rural Telangana, when asked what success would look like, one responded calmly, 'Today, 20% of our children have achieved foundational learning. We want to take that to 60%.' Not a complaint, not a demand—just quiet, persistent faith in progress. These are not isolated incidents. They are signs of something bigger—an awakening. They reflect how the NEP 2020 has ignited a mindset shift across India's education system. Far from being a routine policy document, it has become the quiet catalyst of change, reminding us all that real reform doesn't always announce itself—it quietly takes root. NEP 2020 was a turning point. Drawing from our ancient wisdom and modern pedagogy, the policy promised learning that is 'experiential, holistic, integrated, inquiry-driven, learner-centred, and, above all, enjoyable.' It set the stage for a wave of real political and administrative action. Consider the political consensus it forged — a rare achievement in India's diverse and divided polity. States across the spectrum from Uttar Pradesh to Telangana transformed schools. Mission Kayakalp in Uttar Pradesh upgraded over one lakh government schools, ensuring access to clean drinking water, separate toilets for girls, well-stocked libraries, and hot mid-day meals. In Telangana, Mana Ooru Mana Badi revitalised more than 26,000 schools with digital classrooms, electricity, and safe infrastructure. Classrooms were no longer just buildings — they became spaces of dignity and care. The NEP also states: 'The highest priority of the education system will be to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) in primary school by 2025. The rest of this policy will become relevant for our students only if this most basic learning requirement is first achieved.' To achieve this, the NIPUN Bharat Mission was launched in 2021. With over ₹9,000 crores allocated so far, states were given both resources and autonomy to act. And they did. Madhya Pradesh launched the NIPUN Professionals programme, placing young education fellows in every district. Assam created 146 multilingual teaching-learning materials to meet the needs of its diverse classrooms. Punjab conducted assessments of over 1.11 lakh students to guide targeted interventions and improve learning outcomes. States also began using technology as an accelerator. Uttar Pradesh launched the NIPUN Lakshya app, helping mentors observe classrooms and assist teachers. Over 1.79 lakh classroom observations are recorded every year. Madhya Pradesh launched the Textbook Vitran Tracking App to ensure timely textbook delivery and address gaps proactively. There are signs that foundational learning is beginning to turn into a mass movement. In Bihar, NIPUN gram sabhas are convened regularly to rally parents, community leaders, and guardians to support children's learning. In Karnataka, panchayats help conduct village-level learning assessments. In Andhra Pradesh, panchayati raj institutions lead school mapping and organise volunteer-led reading sessions. These are everyday revolutions that hide behind the scenes. According to the latest ASER report, India has made the biggest gains in foundational learning in two decades since NEP was introduced. These aren't just learning gains — they're economic lifelines. UNESCO estimates that a 2% improvement in foundational literacy can raise Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by 1.5%. Each year of schooling adds ₹7,697 to a child's future monthly income. Universal FLN can cut extreme poverty in half. Behind these numbers are people: teachers who adapt lessons to spark joy, parents who read with their children under dim lights, mentors who criss-cross villages to support educators. These quiet champions are laying the foundation of a stronger India — one child, one classroom, one community at a time. The path ahead is crucial. We must not treat NIPUN Bharat as a one-time campaign with an expiry date, but as the bedrock of our nation's economic and social future. We must extend its mandate, shield it from political cycles, and deepen its roots in every classroom and community. Because India's real GDP in 2040 is being written today — in a small village school where a teacher turns learning into laughter, and a child, eyes wide with wonder, clutches a pencil and carefully traces the first letters of a future no one thought possible. This article is authored by Dr IV Subba Rao, non-resident fellow, NITI Aayog and Ashish Dhawan, founder-chairperson, Central Square Foundation, New Delhi.
