Issues Relating to development and management of Education - Free MCQ Practice

- Statement 1: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) was originally published annually since 2005 but became biennial after 2016. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

- Statement 2: The ASER 2021 survey indicated a notable increase in enrollment in government schools over the last two years. This is correct.

- Statement 3: The ASER 2020 survey was the first-ever phone-based education survey conducted by Pratham. This is also correct.

Thus, the correct statements are 2 and 3, making Option C the correct answer.

The ASER 2021 report emphasizes a notable increase in the enrollment of older children in schools compared to previous years. This shift is a significant trend indicating changes in school enrollment patterns and possibly reflecting evolving educational priorities and access among older age groups.

Statement-I highlights the critiques faced by UGC, emphasizing issues like under-regulation and over-regulation, which have led to a decline in the quality of higher education. Statement-II introduces HECI as a solution, aiming to rectify these problems by focusing on quality standards and governance, thereby complementing and addressing the issues raised in Statement-I. Hence, both statements are correct, with Statement-II providing an explanatory approach to the problems outlined in Statement-I.

- Statement 1 is correct. Kerala indeed has the highest literacy rate in India with 94%.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for higher education in India is 27%, not 39%.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The expenditure on education in India is around 3.5% of GDP, not 6%.

Thus, only statement 1 is correct, making Option A: 1 Only the correct answer.

1. HECI Composition: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and 15 other Members - Incorrect. The correct composition is Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and 12 other Members.

2. HECI Appointment: By Central Government - Correct. The appointment and removal of HECI members are done by the Central Government.

3. UGC Regulation: Entry, Accreditation, Grant of funds, and Fee or affirmative action - Correct. UGC does regulate these aspects.

4. Term of HECI Members: 5 years or 70 years of age - Correct. The term is either 5 years or until the member reaches the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights the increase in the percentage of girls' enrollment in government schools from 70 percent in 2018 to 73 percent in 2020, indicating a positive trend. Statement-II is also accurate in stating that the percentage of boys' enrollment in private schools decreased from 30 percent in 2018 to 27 percent in 2020. However, Statement-II does not provide an explanation for the change mentioned in Statement-I, hence, both statements are correct but not interrelated to explain each other.

The No Detention Policy (NDP) is supported by the argument that detention can lead to increased dropouts, particularly among socially and economically backward class students who may face challenges repeating a year or affording private tuition. This policy suggests that continuous evaluation throughout the year is more beneficial than evaluating students based on one or two tests.

The ASER Report 2020 highlights a substantial shift in school enrollment patterns, indicating that more than 60 percent of children are now enrolled in government schools compared to previous years. This shift signifies a noteworthy change in the educational landscape, reflecting varying preferences and perceptions regarding private and government educational institutions.

Statement 1 is correct. The No Detention Policy (NDP) indeed focuses on reducing dropout rates by continuously evaluating students throughout the year, thus avoiding the stress of one-time high-stakes exams.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Achievement Survey (NAS) actually observed that the average performance of students declined from 2012 to 2015, not improved.

Statement 3 is correct. The Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE) system is essential for tracking each student's progress and tailoring lessons to their capabilities, making it a crucial component of effective education policy.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C.

1. Statement 1: Correct. The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will indeed comprise a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and 12 other members, all appointed by the Central Government. This structure aims to centralize and streamline the governance of higher education in India.

2. Statement 2: Incorrect. The restriction on further employment for HECI members is not 5 years but rather a 2-year cooling-off period for the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and other members before they can take up employment in any public or private higher educational institutions.

3. Statement 3: Correct. One of the primary aims of establishing HECI is to address the issues of inconsistencies and corruption that plagued the regulatory framework managed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The HECI seeks to create a more transparent and efficient regulatory environment.

Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 3.

Members of the HECI are required to be scholars of eminence and standing in the field of academics and research, possessing a proven capacity for institution building and governance. This criterion emphasizes the importance of academic and research excellence in individuals appointed to the HECI, highlighting the focus on maintaining high standards in the field of higher education.

(Note: This question tests the understanding of the criteria set for members of the HECI as outlined in the provided content, focusing on the emphasis placed on academic and research excellence.)

Statement 1 is correct. According to the ASER Report 2020, the percentage of girls enrolled in government schools increased from 70% in 2018 to 73% in 2020.

Statement 2 is correct. The report indicates that the proportion of boys not currently enrolled in any type of school for the age group 6-10 increased from 1.8% in 2018 to 5.3% in 2020.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The percentage of children enrolled in private schools and having smartphones actually increased from 49.9% in 2018 to 74.2% in 2020, as per the ASER Report 2020.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B.

1. Gender Literacy Gap: 21.5%

Incorrect. The gender literacy gap is 17%, not 21.5%. The gap declined from 21.5% from census 2001 to 17%.

2. Schedule Caste Literacy Rate: 66%

Correct. The literacy rate for the Schedule Caste population is indeed 66%.

3. Gross Enrollment Ratio in Higher Education: 27%

Correct. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education in India is 27%.

4. Expenditure on education: 6% of GDP

Incorrect. The expenditure on education is around 3.5% of GDP, with a target of 6%.

Thus, the correctly matched pairs are 2 and 3.

1. Age Group 7-10: 3.9 percent of girls are out of school. - Incorrect. For the age group 7-10, it is 4.1 percent of girls who are out of school.

2. Age Group 11-14: 4.1 percent of boys are out of school. - Incorrect. For the age group 11-14, it is 3.9 percent of boys who are out of school.

3. Age Group 15-16: 8.8 percent of boys are out of school. - Correct. For the age group 15-16, 8.8 percent of boys are indeed out of school.

4. Parents' educational qualifications: 53.1 percent of fathers have completed more than 5 years of schooling. - Incorrect. 53.1 percent of mothers have completed more than 5 years of schooling, not fathers. For fathers, the percentage is 70.8.

So, only the third pair is correctly matched.

1. TSR Subramanian Committee - Recommended restricting 'No Detention' till 5th class

- Correct. The TSR Subramanian committee recommended that the 'No Detention' policy should be restricted till the 5th grade.

2. ASER Survey - Found every second class V student in rural areas can't read text of Class II

- Correct. The ASER survey found that a significant number of Class V students in rural areas could not read a Class II-level text.

3. National Achievement Survey (NAS) - Performance of students improved in 2015 compared to 2012

- Incorrect. The National Achievement Survey (NAS) observed that the performance of students, on average, went down in 2015 compared to 2012.

4. Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulations of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 - Deliberated for setting up campuses of foreign universities in India

- Correct. The Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulations of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010, was deliberated to allow foreign universities to set up campuses and offer degrees in India.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.