The NIPUN (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) Bharat Scheme was recently initiated by the Ministry of Education. The scheme is designed to address the learning needs of children aged 3 to 9 years.
Link to NEP 2020
This progressive educational initiative is a part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The policy replaces the National Policy on Education (NPE) of 1986 which has been operational for 34 years. The NEP aims to spearhead transformative reforms in school and higher education systems in India.
Objective of NIPUN Bharat Scheme
The primary objective of the scheme is to cultivate an encouraging environment that ensures universal acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy. By the end of Grade 3, it strives to enable every child to achieve the necessary learning competencies in reading, writing, and numeracy by 2026-27.
Key Focus Areas
The scheme will concentrate on several key areas including providing access to and retaining children in the foundational years of schooling, teacher capacity building, development of high-quality and diverse Student and Teacher resources and tracking the progress of each child’s learning outcomes.
Implementation Mechanism
The Department of School Education and Literacy will implement the NIPUN Bharat Scheme through a five-tier implementation mechanism at the National-State-District-Block-School levels in all states and UTs. This will be done under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha scheme which integrates three existing schemes – Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE).
NISHTHA and FLN
A special package for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) under NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement) is being developed. NISHTHA aims to improve school education quality through integrated teacher training. Around 25 lakh teachers teaching at pre-primary to primary grade will be trained on FLN this year.
Expected Outcomes of the Scheme
The scheme anticipates several outcomes, such as reduced dropout rates and improved transition from primary to upper primary and secondary stages. It also expects to create a superior learning environment through innovative pedagogies like toy-based and experiential learning. The scheme also focusses on the holistic development of a child through physical, socio-emotional, literacy, numeracy, cognitive, life skills development, and more.
Education in India: an Overview of Constitutional Provisions and Related Laws
Education in India is supported by Part IV of the Indian Constitution, Article 45 and Article 39(f) of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP). The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1976 moved education from the State to the Concurrent List, and the 86th Amendment in 2002 made education an enforceable right under Article 21-A. The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 mandates non-minority private unaided schools to reserve at least 25% of their entry-level seats for children from disadvantaged sections.
Government Initiatives in Education
Several government initiatives have been undertaken to enhance education in India. These include the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS schools), Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV schools), and the use of IT in education, all of which are a result of the NEP of 1986.
