HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 08: Model Answer

Question: What have been the major findings of the recently unveiled Performance Grading Index 2020-21? How has Himachal Pradesh fared in the index. (8 marks, 120 words)

Introduction:

• The Performance Grading Index (PGI) is a tool to provide insights on the status of school education in States and UTs including key levers that drive their performance and critical areas for improvement.
• It is released by the Ministry of Education, and was previously released for the year 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Body:

• PGI 2020-21 classified the States/UTs into ten grades out of which the highest achievable Grade is Level 1, which is for State/UT scoring more than 950 points out of a total of 1000 points & the lowest grade is Level 10 which is for scores below 551.

The performance is assessed on a total of 70 indicators in five domains:

1. Learning outcome
2. Access
3. Infrastructure and facilities
4. Equity
5. Governance process

Major findings:

• A total of 94.95 lakh students entered pre-primary classes in 2021-2022, registering a drop of 10% as compared to the previous year when 1.06 crore children enrolled in these classes.
• Primary classes Enrolment also saw a drop for the first time falling from 12.20 lakh in 2020-2021 to 12.18 lakh in 2021-2022.
• The report records a decline in the number of schools due to closures as well as a lack of teachers. (15.09 lakh to 14.89 lakh)
• Enrolment in private schools continued to decline while the number of students joining government schools increased (as a result of financial constraints due to COVID pandemic)
• Gross enrolment ratio improved in the primary, secondary & higher secondary levels.
• Gender Parity Index (GPI) of GER was found to be favourable to girls compared to boys.
• Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh have joined Kerala, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Maharashtra categorised under Level 2 with a score of 901 to 950 out of a total score of 1,000.

Conclusion:

• To align with NEP 2020 initiatives, the PGI Report for adding new indicators to expand the coverage 202122 will be revamped by without altering total points.
• PGI is to propel States & UTs towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions that will bring about the much-desired optimal education outcomes covering all dimensions.
• By pinpointing the gaps it will help States and UTs to pinpoint the gaps and accordingly prioritize areas for intervention to ensure that the school education system is robust at every level.