Learning outcomes to become enforceable from next session

New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said 'Learning Outcomes' that aims to standardise the parameters for assessing the expected levels of learning of school students will become enforceable from the 2017-18 academic session.

The Union Human Resource Development Ministry has released a draft document of 'Learning Outcomes' for students of Class I to VIII, seeking suggestions from the stakeholders.

The draft document defines learning outcomes as "assessment standards indicating the expected levels of learning that children should achieve for that class".

These outcomes can be used as check-points to assess learning at different points of time. The learning outcomes would help teachers to understand the learning levels of children in their respective classes individually as well as collectively.

'Learning Outcomes' should be the point of reference for conducting achievement surveys. Hence, it is necessary that the defined learning outcomes are also shared with parents and community at large, says the draft document.

"The draft of Learning Outcomes has been released for suggestions from the public. By March, they will be finalised and will come into force from the academic session 2017-18," said Javadekar at an event here.

The minister said the nod to amend the Right to Education Act for incorporating the codified learning outcomes will be taken during the upcoming Parliament session.

The learning outcomes for each class not only help the teachers direct their teaching-learning in the desired manner but make other stakeholders, especially the parents or guardians, school management committee (SMC) members, community and the state functionaries be responsible and alert towards their role for ensuring quality education.

Available in Hindi, English and Urdu, the draft document includes learning outcomes mentioned distinctly for each class in languages, mathematics, environmental studies, science and social science up to the elementary stage.

The minister was speaking at the launch of "Shagun", a web portal for monitoring the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) implemented by states and union territories.

The portal comprises questionnaires, related to various interventions under the SSA and the performance of the states and union territories, and would be viewed by the HRD Ministry, PMO and the Niti Aayog, among others.

Developed by the HRD Ministry, the portal also acts as a repository of best practices, photographs, videos, studies and newspaper articles on elementary education.