'Mission Buniyaad' to check learning outcomes of schools

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Monday launched its new education scheme 'Mission Buniyaad,' aimed at checking the learning outcomes of schools run by it and the Muncipal Corporations.

The Delhi government, working along with the MCDs and other local bodies, will design and execute the program, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told mediapersons on Monday.

"The program is being designed on the lines of Delhi government's Chunauti scheme," said Sisodia, adding that a mentor will be appointed to check the learning outcomes of the concerned schools.

Sisodia, who also serves as the Delhi Education Minister, further said, "Every mentor will be responsible for five schools and will monitor the performance of children between Class III and VII."

The decision comes following the release of a survey report by the National Achievement Survey (NAS).

The report shows that the entire country, including Delhi, has a crisis of learning in its schools.

The survey demonstrated that close to half of all children in India's schools are unable to read their grade level textbooks.

"In the secondary schools run by Delhi government, various programs we initiated have improved reading ability by about 20 per cent. However, children in primary schools that are under the MCDs are not able to read and thereafter when they study in secondary schools, they find it difficult to cope up with the advanced levels," Sisodia said.

"It is in the interest of the children of Delhi that the efforts made by the Delhi government will be extended to MCD schools as well. I am happy that all municipal bodies are on board," the Deputy Chief Minister added.

He further said that almost half of the students in Delhi, among other states, were below the "age appropriate level" in reading and in basic mathematics and "this big gap has to be bridged with a collective approach".

"What is the benefit of teaching when they can't even read their books," he stated.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that under the new education scheme, teaching coordinators or learning outcomes coordinators would be trained by the state government.

Sisodia also urged parents of students to keep a check on the performance of their child.

"I will urge the parents to follow the development of their children and if they think their child needs extra support, then we will have to send them for special training on May and June," he said.

The government will further ensure that students who will come to these special classes during the summer vacation get food and other facilities inside the school premises, Sisodia added.