World-Bank’s STARS project

Context

Performance of the World Bank aided project STARS was reviewed recently.

What is the STARS Project?

• STARS stands for Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS).
• It is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Ministry: Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.
• Objective: To improve the quality and governance of school education in six Indian states.
• Six states are– Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• Beneficiaries: Some 250 million students (between the age of 6 and 17) in 1.5 million schools, and over 10 million teachers will benefit from the program.

Reform initiatives under the project include-

• Focusing more directly on the delivery of education services by providing customized local-level solutions.
• Addressing demands from stakeholders, especially parents, for greater accountability; giving special attention to students from vulnerable sections.
• Equipping teachers to manage this transformation.
• Recognizing that teachers are central to achieving better learning outcomes.
• Investing more in developing India’s human capital needs by strengthening foundational learning for children.