Fri Sep 20 13:41:29 UTC 2024: ## National Education Data System: Vidya Samiksha Kendras Connect 30 States

The Ministry of Education is rapidly expanding its Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSK) network, which aims to create a real-time database on students and teachers across the country. According to Vipin Kumar, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Education, over 30 states and union territories are now part of this initiative.

VSKs serve as data warehouses, collecting and collating information on student and teacher attendance, online learning activities, and other key parameters. This information is then displayed on a Geographic Information System (GIS) dashboard, providing a comprehensive overview of the education system across the nation. The network will eventually connect every school in India, from government to private institutions.

This comprehensive data will enable data-driven policy interventions and tailored decision-making in the education sector. For example, the system can help identify learning gaps in students, even if they move between states. It can also pinpoint reasons for poor student performance in specific regions or schools, investigate low attendance among girl students, and verify the provision of mid-day meals.

“Every student has a unique ID, like Aadhar, and their progress is tracked,” Kumar stated, highlighting the system’s ability to track student progress regardless of location. “Teachers will be able to view and track their strengths and weaknesses, their learning progress, etc., even if they move from one state to another,” he added.

The VSK network already includes states like Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The Ministry of Education is actively working to bring all states and union territories on board, creating a unified platform for educational data analysis and improvement across the country.

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