STARS Project- Recent Developments

The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Education, and the World Bank have signed a financial support agreement for Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS) on January 28, 2021.

Key Points

• The $500 million agreement for Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS) has been signed with an aim to improve the quality and governance of school education in 6 Indian states.
• The 6 Indian states are- Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha.
• Approximately 250 million students of 6 to 17 years in 1.5 million schools and more than 10 million teachers will be benefitted from this project.
• The total cost of the STARS project is Rs 5718 crore and the financial support from the World Bank is $500 million (around Rs. 3700 crores).
• The STARS project aims to strengthen public school education and to support India’s aim of “Education for All”.
• The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) also envisages equitable education for all and the STARS project will carry forward the same vision.
• This loan has been provided by the lending arm of the World Bank, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
• The $500 million has a final maturity of 17.5 years including a grace period of 5 years.

Background

The Union Cabinet approved the STARS project under NEP in October 2020. STARS project is a centrally sponsored scheme for strengthening the school education system.