Learning the Pandemic (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level: YUKTI web portal
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education

Context: 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of “SabkaSaath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” has united Indians and inspired them to focus on progress, prosperity and harmony.
• The PM has laid much emphasis on education, especially school education. 
• Schemes to construct more than 400 new Ekalavya Model Residential Schools for tribal children by 2022 are a case in point.
• Make in India, Digital India, Skill India and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat project are other endeavours to make the country self-reliant.
• The PM has repeatedly emphasised a holistic system of education that is academically rich and enables students to pursue rewarding careers. 
• The focus on the girl child’s education, modernisation of the educational infrastructure, and improvements in the field of teacher training are some of the notable measures of the government in the realm of education.
• When the coronavirus struck, the nation geared itself to saving the academic year and the careers of students. 

What are the steps taken?

• The Ministry of Human Resource Department has played an important part in facilitating several crucial initiatives.
• The government has initiated the YUKTI web portal, the AarogyaSetu app has been made available for free and the National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission aims to boost literacy. 
• The National Curriculum and Pedagogical Framework and the Bharat Padhe online campaign are bringing knowledge to the grass roots. 
• The minister’s experience and administrative skills helped the ministry turn a potential disaster into a productive time for 3.3 million students, and others.
• The approach to education during the pandemic has relied on short-term and strategic initiatives. 
• The Prime Minister’s e-Vidya scheme synergises and strengthens several distance-education projects — digital, online, and mass media. 
• Benefitting 25-crore school children, it focuses on developing permanent assets for quality education for generations to come. 
• A dedicated channel for every class will ensure easy, customised lessons and study material. Importantly, it focuses on equity in education.
• This endeavour also individualises the teaching-learning experience to a considerable extent.

Other Unique steps:

• For the differently-abled, this scheme provides bespoke materials under the Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY). 
• Webinars, podcasts, and online classes enrich the learning experience. 
• In line with its comprehensive approach, the government has tried to address the equally important issue of psychological health.
• Manodarpan, a programme that covers both parents and students at a time when unprecedented challenges and stress have raised mental health issues. 
• Continuously monitored, running along clear guidelines developed by experts, and available round the clock, Manodarpan is a true welfare measure of a government that is responsive to its people.
• This writer has initiated a unique concept, University Social Responsibility (USR), under which free online open educational resources in English, Sanskrit, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Spanish have been developed for those interested in learning the basics of these languages. 
• EnglishPro, a free mobile app, is ready for launch to help those around the SSC/Class X level in improving their English pronunciation in the Bharatiya way.

 University Social Responsibility Endowment Fund:

• Stepping beyond academics, the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) created the University Social Responsibility Endowment Fund. 
• With initial contributions from the staff, the university strengthened the hands of the government in a humble way in spreading awareness about COVID-19 through jingles on FM radio.
• The university has made all possible efforts in equipping the faculty and students with e-resources.
• EFLU is perhaps the first Central University to have completed end-semester examinations online and to have declared their results as well.

 Conclusion:

• The COVID-19 crisis has brought out the nation’s strengths, resilience and innovative spirit. 
• Nowhere is this more evident than in education.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme, consider the following statements:
1. It aims to provide financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises.
2. This Centrally Sponsored Scheme will be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:
Q.1) How COVID 19 impacted in education sector? How the strategies need to be taken to resolve this?