Foundational Learning Study 2022:  The Union Ministry of Education and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) jointly conducted a survey titled ‘Foundational Learning Study 2022’, aimed at understanding the basic learning levels of Class 3 students in language and numeracy across states and devising interventions accordingly. The survey was organized as part of the ministry’s NIPUN Bharat Scheme. 

• Focus on early learning at G20: Delivering the opening remarks at the G20 meeting in Bali, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan spoke about India’s rapid strides towards building a more resilient and inclusive education and skilling ecosystem. He highlighted the focus of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 on formalizing early childhood care and education, and realizing the creative potential of each learner in the process. 
• Balwadi Scheme launch in Chhattisgarh: The Chhattisgarh government launched the Balwadi (kindergarten) scheme, under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with the aim of providing pre-primary education to children in the age group of 5 to 6 years. Officials stated that around 5,173 balwadis have been opened across the state in the current academic year, and the scheme will be expanded further in a phased manner.

• Quality education via PM Shri Schools: The Union Cabinet approved the PM Schools for Rising India (SHRI) Scheme, a new centrally sponsored scheme that aims to develop more than 14500 schools across the country by strengthening select existing schools being managed by all forms of governments across the country. The PM SHRI schools will aim at delivering quality teaching for well-rounded, cognitive development of students. 
• NCERT’s focus on student well-being: NCERT issued guidelines for schools asking them to set up a mental health advisory panel, school-based mental health programme and pedagogical support to ensure mental well-being of students. These guidelines were developed following a mental health survey among school children, which cited exams, results and peer pressure among major factors for stress and anxiety among school students.
• Reducing the load on students: The Madhya Pradesh government announced that students will go ‘bagless’ once a week. Guidelines released by the state specify the weight of school bags for different classes, highlighting that schools will be required to display this chart. 
• Decline in school enrolments: School enrolment is expected to decline at all levels by 2025 due to a decline in population in the age group of 6 to 16 years, a study released by NCERT suggested. Titled ‘Projection and Trends of School Enrolments by 2025’, the study also noted an exponential increase of 900% in over enrolments and over a 1000% growth in intake of girl students between 1950 and 2016. 

• Teacher recruitment in Karnataka: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai shared plans to recruit new teachers in order to fill the vacancies of retired teachers in the state. He also highlighted the state’s continued focus to maintain the required number of teachers in government schools. 
• Gratuity for school teachers: The Supreme Court ruled that private school teachers who have retired since April 1997 and completed five years of service will be entitled for gratuity. The top court upheld the 2009 amendment to the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 and ruled that the benefit of gratuity would extend to teachers, including those employed in private schools. 
• Recognizing innovation-oriented teachers: On the occasion of Teachers’ Day 2022, the Government of India conferred the ‘National Award to Teachers 2022’ to 46 teachers, who were selected for their contributions towards the overall betterment of the field of education in India. Their contributions ranged from introducing a ‘no punishment’ role for students, to introducing activity-based learning in all subjects. 

• Creating a voice of the students in schools: According to the Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi government schools have introduced a Student Advisory Board (SAB) in its schools to augment student participation in various leadership roles. This board will work as the voice of the students and will contribute towards the development of a sense of ownership among them, by designing, managing and executing various school activities.
• Improving school infrastructure: In a move aimed at strengthening infrastructure at the ground level, the Karnataka government will focus on constructing 23,000 more government school buildings over the next three years, besides separate toilets for boys and girls at each government school.