Overview

Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) Starter Pack, under the umbrella of NDEAR, is an initiative to help set up the VSK and enable States & UTs with the ability to see, act and solve problems based on data. By developing a VSK, the state will be able to track their programs and monitor data to course-correct and improve the program outcomes. There are multiple ways a state can set up their own NDEAR-compliant VSK.

This document highlights the use of NIC-enabled VSK Starter Pack which can enable a state to initiate their own VSK by tracking primary datasets in education.

Q1: What is VSK Starter Pack?

The VSK Starter Pack makes it quick and easy to initiate the VSK in any state. The VSK Starter Pack, when enabled for a State/UT will have metrics visualised for six key programs as listed below:

1. NISHTHA: NISHTHA is a capacity building programme for "Improving Quality of School Education through Integrated Teacher Training". It aims to build competencies among all the teachers and school principals at the elementary stage. NISHTHA is the world's largest teachers' training program.

2. UDISE: The Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) is an educational management information system collected by school administrators on a yearly basis. 

3. PGI: The Performance Grading Index (PGI) is a tool to provide insights on the status of school education in States and Union territories including key levers that drive their performance and critical areas for improvement. 

4. DIKSHA: The Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing is an initiative of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (Ministry of Education, Govt. of India). This platform enables implementation of two key programs- Nishtha and Energized Textbooks. 

5. National Achievement Survey (NAS): The National Achievement Survey (NAS) is a nationally representative large-scale survey of students' learning undertaken by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

6. PM POSHAN: Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) earlier known as the National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools is one of the foremost rights based Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). The primary objective of the scheme is to improve the nutritional status of children studying in classes I-VIII in eligible schools.

Q2: What are the indicators in VSK Starter Pack?

The starter pack consists of 15 indicators across the six programs mentioned above. Following is the list of these indicators:

1. NISHTHA:

   1. Implementation Status

   2. Courses and Medium status

   3. % against Potential Base

   4. District wise Status

   5. Course wise Status