Two years after the successful launch of Gujarat's Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK), a state-controlled monitoring room aimed at collecting and analyzing data from various government schemes, 14 states and one Union Territory (UT) have taken steps to establish similar units. The VSK, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, has been assigned the task of gathering data to track essential performance indicators in schools, such as teacher and student attendance and conducting periodic assessments of students' learning outcomes.
To support the states in setting up their own VSKs, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the central government's primary institution for school education research, has already established a centralized VSK. This central VSK now serves as the central authority, providing technical guidance to the states regarding the setup process. Arvind Gupta, the VSK Lead at NCERT, mentioned that the NCERT has developed a comprehensive dashboard (VSK) to monitor state data related to various government initiatives, including the PM-Poshan Scheme, NISHTHA (teacher training) scheme, Performance Grading Index, National Achievement Survey, Unified District Information System for Education, and Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA).
So far, the NCERT has distributed a "starter pack" to 15 states/UTs, which includes assistance on software, hardware, and human resources requirements. The distribution of this starter pack began in September 2022, as confirmed by officials. Dr. Amarendra P. Behera, Joint Director at NCERT's Central Institute of Educational Technology, who oversees the operations of VSK, stated that states are currently utilizing funds allocated under the Ministry of Education's Samagra Shiksha Scheme to establish their VSKs. He further added that the states may request additional funds if necessary.
In the future, a separate fund may be introduced for the maintenance and operations of VSKs if the states successfully launch their control centers. At the National Education Ministers' Conference held in Gujarat in June 2022, Anita Karwal, the former Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, encouraged states to seek funding from the central government to initiate the establishment of VSKs.
The first VSK was inaugurated in June 2021 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, by the then Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the center in April of the previous year. According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, the Vidya Samiksha Kendra collects and analyzes over 500 crore data sets annually using advanced technologies such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, with the ultimate goal of improving overall learning outcomes for students.