Questions/Answers

The government of Gujarat has been continuously working to improve the performance of state on gender issues and improve the condition of Girl’s education in the state. The focus includes gender equality and access to education and it’s connection to alleviation of poverty.

The aim is to use the gender specific data to plan the interventions to help the improvement of performance of Girl’s on different indicators. • Issuing a unique identification to all the students who are being enrolled into Education System in Government Schools across state • To facilitate the Education of each child based on child tracking of learning outcomes and bring gender equality through immediate response • To promote transparency and accountability especially in the programs designed for girls • To promote responsiveness to the needs of Girl educations at elementary level • To promote gender responsive service delivery in elementary education • Understanding of important educational indicators through gender and child-wise data instead of overall numerical figures

The initiative helps in ensuring the inclusive and equitable education to all with complete gender equality and empowering all women and girls. This created gender responsive teaching and learning environment in schools across the state. The main objective of this application is to make it easy to find any student studying in Gujarat using his/her Unique Identification Number by maintaining database of every school. This system makes tracking of students easy. There are system generated 18 Digits unique Id Number for every child to track child throughout her academic career. The initiative helps to track dropout and absenteeism. So it is now easier to track and design the response to ensure the retention especially for girl child. This initiative is helping in great way to tracking the progress and removing the gaps in the various schemes of state and central government to promote the education of Girl child. The child tracking helps in filling the gap in terms of learning outcomes and providing the specific inputs to child to erase any such gap.

This initiative has helped in great way to improve the gender friendly delivery of public services in the State. This has resulted in the reduction of drop-out rate and increase in retention for girls in schools. The data has been used to improve the services at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalay in the state. It helps in better services in the existing schools and find the need of new residential schools for Girls in any specific area or zone. A central interface team called as District Team and Block Team (DMIS/BMIS) monitor the end users CRC (Cluster Resource Co-coordinators) to track the entire group of schools which are allocated to him/her including the facility and enrollment, helpdesk operations form distribution across the all schools. The unique id Enabled DISE, project aims at maintaining student's database online to provide prompt access to child information by interlinking with enrollment and academic data. There is a system generated 18 Digits unique Id Number for every child to track child throughout his academic career. All the documents related to unique id Enabled DISE are available online. This gives opportunity to people at different level to track the results for each unique id and plan the deliverables and ensure that these reaches to the beneficiaries on time.

To address the Universalization of Elementary Education, all the stakeholders are using the system to track the students through unique identification of the students whether they are moving inside or outside the Education System. The system has facilitated planning for various interventions by considering who will be benefited or who was benefited before based on personal identification. The system has also facilitated individual gender based child wise tracking of learning outcomes to ensure the best of results. The data by this initiative has been used in Gunotsav program to observe the performance of schools on different parameters. Users of the application: 1. Education Department 2. Health, Social Justice, Tribal Development & other departments of State Government and Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India 2. State Project Office, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Gujarat 3. 33 District Project Offices and 4 Corporation Project Offices 4. 33 District Education Committees and 4 Municipal School Boards 5. 239 Block Resource Centers 6. 4268 Cluster Resource Centers 7. 53,291 Schools including Pvt Aided/Unaided having Elementary, Secondary and Higher Secondary Section 8. Educationalists, Researchers, Social Workers, NGOs and anyone else who are able to check existing facilities under Elementary Education

Internet has been accepted as a simple yet effective tool to reach out to thousands of people across the globe “UNIQUE ID ENABLED DISE” uses the same approach to fulfill its objectives. A database of 62.0 lakh students has been generated through Unique ID Enabled DISE web based application by assigning unique identification to each government primary school student. Records for each child with details like student name, parents name, birth date, address and incentives/benefits received from Government are being maintained. Self Assessment has been executed using OMR sheet pre-printed with student name and unique ID. Learning outcome based child tracking system has been launched with learning levels of each individual child to monitor learning outcomes and teachers' profiles, competencies and training needs. System generated 18 Digits unique Identification number for every child to track child throughout his/her academic career in the context of learning outcomes and facilities/incentives provided. All students under elementary schooling system covered under system. Dealing with core objectives under elementary education like restricting fake enrollment, Dropout, retention and universalization of elementary education. Child wise records captured with details like student name, parents name, birth date, address and incentives/benefits received from Government for impact assessments of and planning. Learning outcome based child tracking with learning levels of each individual child to monitor learning outcomes and teachers' profiles, competencies and training needs.

This scheme has been an unique effort to use the technology and child wise data to improve the services and status of education of girl child. It has been an effective tool to design and implement the programs with very objectively verifiable indicator. The availability of yearly data helps in big way to evaluate the performance of different gender based schemes and bring the necessary changes or start new initiatives. This initiative has revolutionized the Education System in the state. This is the first successful online application developed in country for child tracking with information of approximately 87 lacs students. Under this system, child wise records are captured annually with details like student name, parents name, birth date, address and incentives/benefits received from Government. Self Assessment imparted for 46 lacs students of std. 2 to 8 using OMR sheet pre-printed with student name under GUNOTSAV 2017. It aims at online maintaining student's database with quick & easy access across all schools by enabling the facility with enrollment, academic records containing child wise details like DOB, DOA, Religion, Social category with students’ basic information and individual learning outcomes. System generated 18 Digits unique Identification number for every children to track child throughout his/her academic career in the context of learning outcomes and facilities/incentives provided. All the students under elementary schooling system have been covered under this system. A central interface team also called as District Team & Block Team (DMIS/BMIS) monitors the end users CRC (Cluster Resource Co-coordinators) & Schools user to track schools which allocated to him/her including the facility, academic records and helpdesk operations form distribution across the all schools.

The concept of Unique ID enabled DISE is original and an innovative initiative implemented in the state of Gujarat. It is one in its kind of innovation in the state to use the technology and data to help achieving the sustainable development goals. The innovation lies in using the technology and data to get twin objectives of SDGs which are to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and achieve gender equality to empower all women and girls. This concept, however, is inspired from the Unique Identification (Aadhar) number framework which was initially conceived by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Planning Commission, Government of India as an initiative to provide unique identification to each Indian resident and would be used primarily as the basis for efficient delivery of welfare services. It would also act as a tool for effective monitoring of various programs and schemes of the Government.

GCEE, SSA has implemented the Child Tracking System with its own project team on collaborative participation approach through in-house development under the system. GCEE, SSA has established a huge working team which has been working for an almost a decade. Project Staff is highly involved at all the levels for implementation of the System. The following team members have participated for successful implementation of the System: 4. State Management Information System (MIS) Team 5. District MIS Team 6. Block MIS Team and Block Resource Centre (BRC) Coordinators 7. Cluster Resource Centre (CRC) Coordinators

Yes

The successful implementation of this innovative initiative has resulted in its replication in different contexts. Earlier, all the planning and gap analysis exercises were imparted based on District Information System for Education (DISE) which covers only quantitative figures of enrollment. Now, the Child wise database aids the developments and implementations of national strategies, regulatory and institutional frameworks to harmonize policies and programmes by promoting collaboration and maximizing synergies between different government sectors and departments in order to promote collaborative outcomes that increase the scope of coverage and results in broader achievements. It has helped in enhancement in organizational performance by integrating different schemes across different agencies using open standards and open data for transparency As system is implemented with base data of Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) existing in all the States and recognized by MHRD, this system can also be implemented in any other state of India as well as at the country level so that it can cover entire population of the country.

This initiative is very much sustainable especially keeping in view that the system is in place and working efficiently. There is a need to keep improving the social and environmental aspects of education. The data helps the government to start the different schemes to achieve the sustainable development goals and promote the Girl’s education at elementary level. It promotes whole-of-government approaches by introducing unique idea. This initiative ensures Access to Elementary Education and assists in decision making in the context of policy making through e-participation of the stakeholders and citizens for demands and needs of citizens. Satisfaction towards service delivery could be achieved by incorporating feedback from stakeholders and community by administrative reform having least scope of grievances. The cumbersome tasks are transformed in institutional mechanism by introducing new concept through use of Technology to increase efficiency in policy making under holistic approaches. Earlier, only quantitative aspects could be analyzed for schools under Gunotsav-an initiative for quality improvement. Now, after introducing Aadhaar Enabled DISE; the child wise assessment and gap analysis becomes possible to know learning level of individual child. So, it becomes indicative tool for delivery of outcome oriented efforts. Keeping in view that we need to move forward to achieve the Sustainable development goals as per plan, the unique id based Dise initiative is going to play a key role also in coming years. Some of the aspects to be covered by the initiative in coming time are • Online School Leaving Certificate generation through the system • Online Migration Certificate generation through the system • Real time updation • Link with School Management Software • Linkage with Health, MDM, UIDAI's Aadhaar Id • Expansion up to Class XII to maintain history of academic details

The system is self-sustainable with the only requirement to keep the technology updated with time. This initiative was started in 2013 and has been successfully going on since then year after year. Each year, existing records are being updated and newly enrolled students in Std 1 are being entered under the system. Mentioning Unique ID in all educational documents like School Leaving Certificate, Migration Card etc. has been done mandatory vide Government Resolution No. PRE-1414-4191-K dated 21/11/2013 From the Current Year and Bank Accounts Details etc are also integrated for scholarship schemes Awareness has been generated on importance of the child tracking system through print media by giving press note. The system is extended up to Class 12 to track the students from Class 1 to 12 by covering secondary and higher secondary level under the child tracking system. The initiative which started in 2012-12 has grown in size and scope and has been increasingly different aspects of data requirement. It has been proved to be a great help to users of the data to design, implement and track various welfare schemes of government. Now it has become a time tested initiative and only expected to grow in size with increased number of users in coming years.

Yes

Yes, the outcomes were observed very closely to understand the progress. The data generated on retention, dropouts, learning outcomes and other parameters for Girl child was considered to understand the results of the initiative. Gunotsav has been an effective tool to evaluate the progress made through this initiative. Under GUNOTSAV 2017, the efforts delivered a database of 54.0 lakh students generated through Unique ID Enabled DISE web based application by assigning unique identification to each government primary school student. Records for each child with details like student name, parents name, birth date, address and incentives/benefits received from Government are being maintained. Self-Assessment executed using OMR sheet pre-printed with student name and unique ID. Learning outcome based child tracking system launched with learning levels of each individual child to monitor learning outcomes and teachers' profiles, competencies and training needs.

The dropout rate of Girl’s at primary level (Class 1 to 5) which was 2.08 in 2011-12 decreased to 1.61 in 2016-17. Similary the dropout rate of Girl’s at elementary level (Class 1 to 7/8) decreased from 7.56 in 2011-12 to 6.06 in 2016-17. The total enrolment of Girl’s in Std 1-7/8, has increased from 3869549, in 2011-12, to 4197563 in 2016-17 in Std 1- 8. Some of the important milestones achieved through this initiative are: • Child wise records captured with details like student name, parents name, birth date, address and incentives/benefits received from Government • A database of 90.0 lac students generated through web based application “Unique id Enable DISE” by assigning unique identification to each student • Self Assessment imparted using OMR sheet pre-printed with student name under GUNOTSAV • Learning outcome based child tracking launched with learning levels of each individual child to monitor learning outcomes and teachers' profiles, competencies and training needs • In Sabarkantha district, student’s bank accounts open based on Aadhaar DISE unique ID and their available details for incentive • Maintaining student's database online with quick & easy access across all schools • System generated 18 Digits unique Identification number for every child to track child throughout his/her academic career in the context of learning outcomes and facilities/incentives provided • All students std. 1 to std. 12 covered under system • Dealing with core objectives under elementary education like restricting fake enrolment, Dropout, retention and universalization of elementary education • Child wise records captured with details for impact assessments of and planning • Learning outcome based child tracking with learning levels of each individual child to monitor learning outcomes and teachers' profiles, competencies and training needs

Some of the important indicators used to understand the progress made in delivering best quality education of children were as follows: 1. Retention data for Girl child at primary to upper primary, then upper primary to secondary and then at secondary level 2. Dropout figures for Girls as they progress to upper primary and secondary education 3. Learning outcomes – especially using Gunotsav data to understand the progress made on various learnng indicators 4. Ratio of Girl’s to Boy’s at primary and secondary level 5. Gender Parity index for primary and upper primary 6. No. of students covered by this initiative 7. Bank accounts opened with the help of this initiative

Unique id Enabled DISE has its unique team for research and successful software for communication and dissemination of information. The objective to achieve Right to Education goals makes the initiative adjustable to every need for the department of education. Team work and participation makes it sustainable and long lasting. Unique id Enabled DISE has its teams of 1. State MIS Team 2. District MIS Team & District Project Coordinators 3. Block MIS Team & BRC Coordinators 4. CRC Coordinators to work for betterment of the society by enhancing educational facility in un-served areas of state. As mentioned above the design and implementation of data and technical aspects of the initiative was done by a specialised team of government. The data generated by it are used by all the stakeholders and get benefitted. This includes various government departments, non-government organisations, teachers, parents and community members.

The Child wise database aids the developments and implementations of national strategies, regulatory and institutional frameworks to harmonize policies and programmes by promoting collaboration and maximizing synergies between different government sectors in order to promote collaborative outcomes that increase public value. Enhancing organizational performance by integrating different schemes across different agencies using open standards and open data for transparency. Minimizes duplication of efforts and reduces costs through integration of back-end office operations, utilization of innovative channels and tools such as ICT tools Clear vision, political will and understanding of the ICT tools could be able to improve government functions and human resources capacities to work across organizational boundaries through continuous learning, training and other capacity building activities. This initiative ensures Access to Elementary Education and assists in decision making in the context of policy making through e-participation of the stakeholders and citizens for demands and needs of citizens Satisfaction towards service delivery could be achieved by incorporating feedback from stakeholders and community by administrative reform having least scope of grievances The cumbersome tasks could be transformed in institutional mechanism by introducing new concept through use of Technology to increase efficiency in policy making under holistic approaches