PR No – 11
24th November, 2023
New Delhi
PHDCCI launches nation-wide education campaign “Project Vidyasagar” from Bihar
Patna: PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in partnership with Parakh NCERT; SCERT Bihar and Union Ministry of Education’s Vidyanjali scheme started a 12-state campaign called Project Vidyasagar from Patna on November 23.
The two-day workshop had twin objectives – creating awareness among school teachers about learning competencies at different levels and creating awareness about Vidyanjali. Present in the inaugural session were CEO of Parakh, NCERT Prof Indrani Bhaduri; Joint Director, SCERT Bihar, Dr Rashmi Prabha; senior officials of Vidyanjali scheme; Mr Kumod Kumar, Co-Chairman, PHDCCI Bihar chapter, who also chairs Chandragutpa Institute of Management Patna and Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI, Ms Shalini S Sharma.
Speaking in the inaugural session, Prof Bhaduri said that NEP 2020 brings into focus wide-ranging assessment reforms which are based on competency based learning, moving away from rote learning. This, she said, was the first education policy of the 21st century and it aimed at addressing the many growing developmental imperatives of our country.
Dr Prabha shared with the teachers how it was important to work hand in hand with private bodies which were an equally important part of the education eco-system, as government institutions. Focusing on Vidyanjali, she exorted teachers to make use of opportunities available in the private sector to improve the quality of their schools.
A detailed presentation on Vidyanjali was made by experts at the project management unit of the scheme in Delhi. They shared with the participants that this scheme aimed at strengthening the school education system and boost learning outcomes by leveraging the expertise and resources of people from local communities. Volunteers could sign up through the Vidyanjali portal and select a school of their choice, they explained to participating teachers.
Ms Sharma gave the background of Project Vidyasagar and how it was conceptualised to supplement government’s initiatives in education. She reaffirmed the support of PHDCCI in achieving the objectives of Parakh as well as Vidyanjali.
Mr Kumar welcomed the initiative of PHDCCI Delhi team in education and offered his support in strengthening the work of the Chamber in education in Bihar, specially in higher education.
Prof Vijayan K, Department of Teacher Education, NCERT, addressed the technical sessions at the workshop and took the participants through the latest developments in pedagogy in line with NEP 2020.
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Background – Bihar
Bihar has the second highest number of school students in India. As per UDISE+ data of the Ministry of Education, at 2,74,72,692 (i.e., 2.7 crore), it is second only to Uttar Pradesh which has more than 4.7 crore school children. With the total number of students in the country being more than 26.5 crore, this translates into roughly 10 per cent of total school students in the country. The corresponding number of teachers on the other hand is only 5.8 lakh. This means that Bihar has the poorest student – teacher ratio in the country at 47.
National Education Policy 2020
NEP 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and it aims to address the many growing developmental imperatives of our country. This 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 SDG4, while building upon India’s traditions and value systems. NEP 2020 states that the curricular and pedagogical structure of school education will be reconfigured to make it responsive and relevant to the developmental needs and interests of learners at different stages of their development, corresponding to the age ranges of 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years, respectively.
Parakh
National Assessment Centre, Parakh (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), is a standard-setting body under the Ministry of Education which fulfils the basic objectives of setting norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognized school boards of India.
Parakh guides the State Achievement Survey (SAS) and undertakes the National Achievement Survey (NAS), monitors achievement of learning outcomes in the country, and encourages and helps school boards to shift their assessment patterns towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21st century in consonance with the stated objectives of NEP 2020.
This Centre also advises school boards regarding new assessment patterns and latest research and promotes collaborations between school boards. It is an instrument for sharing of best practices among school boards, and for ensuring equivalence of academic standards among learners across all school boards.
NAS and SEAS
Parakh conducted National Achievement Survey (NAS) in 2017 and 2021. It conducted State Educational Achievement Survey (SEAS) in November 2023 which provides competency-based mapping at the block level at the end of Foundational, Preparatory and Middle stages.
As per the District Report Card of NAS 2021, Patna has 3982 schools with total 29132 teachers. Out of these, 424 are private schools and the rest are run by the Government. This includes 3506 schools run by the State Government; 43 aided schools and 9 Central schools.
Project Vidyasagar
The National Achievement Survey (NAS) is a crucial assessment tool that evaluates the learning outcomes of students across various subjects and grade levels. It provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the education system and helps in identifying areas for improvement. Recognising the significance of NAS, Project Vidyasagar entails a series of comprehensive two-day workshops aimed at empowering teachers with the knowledge and skills required to understand, interpret, and effectively utilize NAS results.
Objectives of Project Vidyasagar
• Enhance Understanding: To provide teachers with a comprehensive understanding of the National Achievement Survey, its purpose, methodology, and significance in improving the quality of education.
• Interpretation Skills: Equip teachers with the ability to analyze and interpret NAS results, helping them identify strengths and weaknesses in student learning outcomes.
• Data-Driven Instruction: Enable teachers to use NAS data to tailor their teaching methods, plan curriculum delivery, and classroom strategies to address specific learning needs.
• Effective Feedback: Train teachers in providing constructive feedback to students and parents based on NAS results, fostering a collaborative approach towards education.
• Professional Development: Offer a platform for teachers to interact, share experiences, and learn from each other’s best practices, fostering a culture of continuous professional development.
Objectives of Vidyanjali
Strengthening Community Ties
The programme seeks to develop stronger bonds between schools, teachers, parents and community at large
• Enhancing Learning Outcomes & Strengthen Schools
Vidyanjali aims at providing children with a conducive learning environment that promotes academic excellence by strengthening government and government aided schools.
• Fostering Creativity and Innovation
Vidyanjali encourages volunteers to come up with innovative teaching methods and interactive activities that promote creative thinking
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Warm Regards,
Media Division
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry