Why in news:

• Recently, Rajasthan government has announced that pre-primary classes will be conducted in state's Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools.
• With this, Rajasthan has become first state in the country to conduct pre-primary classes in English medium in government schools.

Key Points:

• As per the initial set of instructions issued by the state government, pre-primary classes will be started from the ongoing session in Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools operating at 33 district headquarters in the first phase.
• Gradually, the program will be extended to block level.
• The duration of the pre-primary education program will be 3 years, in which children of 3 years of age or above will be admitted and a total of 25 students will be enrolled in each section.
• For these schools,  teachers will be selected among the currently working level 1 teachers through walk-in-interview.
• Education ministry has announced that syllabus for the purpose will be specially prepared by RSCERT (Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research & Training),
• It will be implemented in pre-primary sections and classes will be conducted for 4 hours a day and 5 days a week.
• The existing infrastructure of Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools will be utilised to conduct pre-primary classes and if required, additional class rooms will be commissioned.
• With the implementation of this order, Rajasthan has become the only state in the country to conduct pre-primary classes in English medium in government schools.
  
  
   

Rajasthan State Institute of Educational Research and Training (SIERT)

• The State Institute of Educational Research and Training, Rajasthan (S.I.E.R.T.) was established in Udaipur on 11th November 1978 for qualitative upliftment in the area of school education as recommended by Mahrotra Committee set by the Government of Rajasthan.
• At that time, different state level units were functioning at different places (State Institute of Education, State Institute of Science Education, Evaluation Unit, Educational & Vocational Guidance Bureau) etc.
• These different units were brought under one umbrella by the establishment of State Institute of Educational Research and Training, Rajasthan (S.I.E.R.T.)
• This institute functions as an academic wing of Commissioner of Elementary and the Commissioner of Secondary Education, Rajasthan, Bikaner.
• It acts as an academic adviser to the Department of Secondary Education and to the Ministry of Education in the state.
• The Institute has been administering the working of Commissioner of Elementary Education since January 2002.
• SIERT is concerned with the academic aspect of school education including formation of curriculum, preparation of textbooks, teacher’s handbook and teachers’ training.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• SIERT is an apex academic organization for educational planning, implementation and evaluation for school and teacher education.
• SIERT has been designated as the highest academic authority for the state.
• It is an advisory and consultative body which assists and advises the state education department.
• It is the nodal agency for qualitative improvement at school stage.
• It provides leadership, academic guidance and support to institutes such as IASEs, CTEs and DIETs.

Functions:

• Preparation of curriculum framework, syllabi and text book development for elementary education.
• Preparation of curriculum and material development for pre-service teacher training programme.
• Organizing in-service teacher capacity building programmes.
• Material development for teacher trainers (DIETs, CTEs & IASEs) and resource persons.
• Conducting research/survey as per the requirements and/or directions of the state government.
• Publications
• Extension Activities (Science Fair, Life Skill Development Fair, Career Day Celebration)