Kerala’s Comprehensive Plan to Improve Public School Education

January 22, 2025

Recently, Kerala’s government launched a comprehensive education plan aimed at enhancing public school quality. This initiative follows meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, focusing on accountability and timely execution of educational improvements. The plan identifies eight key areas for immediate action, targeting both the current academic year and the next.

Academic Efficiency Enhancement

The plan prioritises improving academic efficiency in schools.
A measure is the completion of the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan, assessing students in Classes III, VI, and IX. This national achievement survey evaluates competencies across government, aided, and private schools, involving approximately 23 lakh students nationwide.

What is PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan?

It is a baseline study to check if students are achieving specific learning goals as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It focuses on foundational, preparatory, and middle stages of education.

Who and What Will Be Assessed?

Covers students in Grades 3, 6, and 9 from Government, Government-Aided, and Private Schools across India.
Subjects include Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and “The World Around Us.”

Languages of Assessment:

Tests are conducted in 23 languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English, and more.

Technology in Education

The plan promotes technology-friendly education through initiatives by the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education. An academic audit will assess current technology use in classrooms, ensuring effective integration of digital tools in teaching.

Administrative Training

Training for education officers is crucial. This includes deputy directors and district education officers to improve monitoring of educational activities. Coordination among various educational agencies is emphasised to streamline operations.

Research Activities

Research is a focus area, with studies planned to evaluate the effectiveness of new curriculum and textbook training. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will lead these initiatives, including future state achievement surveys.

Teacher Training Initiatives

Teacher training programs are being enhanced, particularly for pre-primary and new teachers. This aims to equip educators with necessary skills and knowledge to improve classroom instruction.

Community Involvement

The plan encourages cooperation from parent-teacher associations, school management committees, and local self-governments. Their involvement is crucial for implementing various educational programmes effectively.

Public Awareness Campaigns

Awareness creation about quality education is essential. The plan includes strategies to promote understanding and support for educational improvements among the public.

Implementation Evaluation

The Chief Minister’s Office will evaluate the implementation of the action plan. Each agency under the education department is tasked with preparing a calendar of activities to ensure accountability and progress tracking.

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