The Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Bengaluru-based non-profit organization to establish the Jharkhand Policy Lab for Education System Transformation. This institutional platform is designed to support evidence-based policymaking in school education across the state.
Agreement Signed in Ranchi
The agreement was formalized in Ranchi in the presence of officials from the School Education and Literacy Department, JEPC, and representatives of the non-profit organization. According to officials, the Policy Lab will concentrate on key areas such as pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, teacher professional development, and student wellbeing.
Objectives and Vision
Shashi Ranjan, State Project Director of JEPC, emphasized that the initiative aims to strengthen the use of evidence and innovation in educational planning and implementation. “The Policy Lab represents an important step towards building a culture where evidence, innovation, and reflection inform policy and practice,” he said.
Avinav Kumar, State Programme Officer of JEPC, added that the platform would help create stronger linkages between research and policymaking. “The Jharkhand Policy Lab creates an opportunity for the education system to become more reflective, responsive, and collaborative,” he stated.
Operational Roadmap
Officials revealed that the initiative will operate through research studies, pilot projects, policy consultations, and capacity-building activities. It follows an initial 18-month roadmap under a three-year agreement. The Policy Lab is also expected to focus on issues affecting children from tribal, rural, migrant, and socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
The lab will engage with researchers, universities, and education experts to generate evidence that can support decision-making within the state's public education system. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that policies are grounded in data and best practices, ultimately improving educational outcomes for all students in Jharkhand.
