Cabinet approves World Bank aided project STARS

News: Union Cabinet has approved the implementation of the World Bank- aided Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States(STARS) project under the New Education Policy (NEP).

Facts:

• Type: The project would be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education(MOE).
• Aim: To support the states in developing and improving school education outcomes.
• Coverage: The project covers 6 States namely Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha.

Components: The STARS Project has two major components:

• At National Level, the project envisages the following interventions which will benefit all states and UTs:
  • To strengthen the national data systems to capture robust and authentic data on retention, transition and completion rates of students.
  • To support in improving states Performance Grading Index(PGI) scores by incentivizing states governance reform agenda through SIG (State Incentive Grants).
  • To support the establishment of the National Assessment Center (PARAKH).
  • It also includes a Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) which will help government respond to situations leading to loss of learning such as school closures, inadequate facilities and use technology for facilitating remote learning among others.
• At State Level, the project envisages:
  • Strengthening Early Childhood Education and Foundational Learning
  • Improving Learning Assessment Systems
  • Strengthening classroom instruction and remediation through teacher development and school leadership
  • Governance and Decentralized Management for Improved Service Delivery among others.
  • Strengthening Vocational education in schools through mainstreaming, career guidance and counselling, internships and coverage of out of school children