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The Print
17 hours ago
- Science
- The Print
Centre's school education assessment flags learning gaps—Maths least favourite, govt schools lag behind
Conducted by the Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH)—an independent body under NCERT and Union Ministry of Education—the survey report released Tuesday showed that Mathematics was the subject where students across all three assessed grades performed the lowest. The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan, formerly known as the National Achievement Survey (NAS), was conducted on 4 December last year, covering 21,15,022 students from both government and private schools in Grades 3, 6 and 9, across 74,229 schools in 781 districts, spanning 36 States and Union Territories. New Delhi: Highlighting serious learning gaps in the subject of Mathematics among school students, a government survey has found that less than 60 percent of Class 3 students could fluently perform addition and subtraction of two-digit numbers, with less than 50 percent of Class 6 students able to recognise simple number patterns, like odd and even numbers. Additionally, only 28 percent of Class 9 students could understand and apply the concept of percentages to solve problems. The survey was revised last year in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The last NAS in 2021 covered Classes 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10. Under the revamped format, it now assesses Classes 3, 6, and 9—marking the beginning of each stage of schooling as outlined in the new policy. In Class 3, where students were assessed in both Language and Mathematics, the average score in Language was 64 percent, compared to 60 percent in Mathematics. The survey showed that average performance in Mathematics declined as students progressed through higher grades. Language performance also showed a downward trend. In Class 6, an additional subject—'The World Around Us'—was introduced alongside Language and Mathematics. Students scored lowest in Mathematics (46 percent), while Language averaged 57 percent, and The World Around Us scored 49 percent nationally. The World Around Us covers the environment and society. It describes the use of natural resources in our immediate surroundings, and basic social and behavioural norms, among others. In case of class 9, students were assessed in Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. Among the four subjects, Language had the highest average score (54 percent), while Mathematics had the lowest (37 percent). Science and Social Science showed equal average performances at 40 percent. According to Indrani Bhaduri, programme coordinator, CEO and head of PARAKH, the performance of Class 3 students has improved since the previous NAS in 2021, when the average Mathematics score was 57 percent. However, she said that the previous NAS surveys cannot be compared with this one because of the overall change in assessment method. 'In almost all states, the performance of Class 3 has improved due to the NIPUN Bharat initiative. It is only a few states that are pulling down the national average,' she told ThePrint. NIPUN Bharat initiative, or National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy, was launched as part of NEP 2020. For higher classes, Bhaduri said, the impact of NEP 2020 will take more time to reflect in student outcomes, as learning levels were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 'This trend is visible in international assessments like PISA and TIMSS, where higher grades—those most affected by the pandemic—have shown consistently lower performance,' she said. In terms of state-wise performance, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Chandigarh were among the top performers, while Meghalaya, Lakshadweep and Uttarakhand recorded the lowest scores across all classes. The report said that instances where less than 50 percent of students were able to answer correctly indicate 'learning gaps'. 'These learning gaps highlight the need for focused interventions to strengthen students' skills, refine instructional strategies, and provide additional learning support. Addressing these areas effectively will help improve overall student learning outcomes in the nation,' the report read. Also Read: CBSE releases final two board exam policy for class 10, makes first option mandatory; second optional Govt schools lag in Mathematics In case of Class 3, central government schools recorded the lowest performance in Mathematics. Scheduled Tribe (ST) students had the lowest scores across both subjects. Other Backward Class (OBC) and Scheduled Caste (SC) students performed at similar levels, with better outcomes in Language, compared to Mathematics. Similarly, in case of Class 6, government-aided and state government schools showed weaker performance, especially in Mathematics. In terms of social groups, ST students had the lowest overall scores, Mathematics being the most challenging for them. OBC and SC students recorded moderate performance, with better outcomes in Language than in The World Around Us and Mathematics. In Class 9 as well, state government and government-aided schools recorded the lowest performance in Mathematics. ST students had the lowest scores across all subjects, with the largest gaps observed in Mathematics. 'SC and OBC students performed similarly, with Language being their strongest subject and Mathematics the weakest across all social groups,' the report read. A significant rural-urban divide was also observed. While Class 3 students in rural areas performed better in both subjects, Classes 6 and 9 students in urban areas outperformed their rural counterparts across all subjects. In his message in the report, School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar said that the survey helped 'identify both our achievements and the challenges that lie ahead'. Moving beyond assessment, the next phase aims to 'translate the findings of the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 into meaningful actions', he added, which will involve phased data sharing through workshops at national, regional, state and district levels to 'prepare district-specific roadmaps, where roles and responsibilities are clearly defined'. 'Support will come from layered interventions—short-, mid-, and long-term—including teacher training, community engagement, digital materials, and a Management Information System,' he said. Science & Social Science also challenging Only 36 percent of Class 9 students could correctly classify matter based on physical properties (such as state, shape, transparency, magnetism, conductivity) and chemical properties (including purity, acidity, metallic nature and composition). Additionally, just 33 percent accurately described how electricity works by manipulating elements in simple circuits, and demonstrated the heating and magnetic effects of electricity. In Social Science, only 33 percent of Class 9 students could explain key natural phenomena, such as climate, weather, ocean cycles, soil formation, and river flow, along with their spatial distribution. Meanwhile, 45 percent understood the process of the Indian Constitution's formation, and grasped the ideas and ideals of the Indian National Movement, including those rooted in India's civilisational heritage. According to the report, the average national score in Social Science for girls was 41 percent, higher than boys at 39 percent. However, in Science, boys scored marginally higher with an average of 41 percent, compared to girls' 39 percent. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also read: IIT Kharagpur's two-pronged plan to help students in distress: 'campus mothers' & welcome committees
Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
NCERT School Survey: A must know for UPSC current affairs
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up on your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on an important school survey. (Relevance: The Education sector is crucial for the government to attain the goal of Vikshit Bharat. This survey provides an assessment report on the initiatives taken by the government and identifies areas that require further attention. The data provided in the article can be used for value addition in your UPSC Mains. Importantly, questions have been asked on this sector in the UPSC exam. ) Learning levels are yet to bounce back to pre-Covid levels in the primary stage, with students in Class 3 still not having caught up with the performance recorded in 2017, reveals Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, a survey conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan, which was called the National Achievement Survey (NAS) in previous iterations, assessed 21.15 lakh students in Classes 3, 6, and 9 across 74,229 schools in December 2024. 1. Class 3 students assessed in language and Mathematics fared better compared to 2021, when learning levels were captured in the wake of the pandemic and the resultant disruptions in education, but their scores remained lower than the pre-Covid level in 2017. 2. Notably, the scores of only Class 3 can be compared with 2017 and 2021 since it is the only common class in all three rounds of assessment. The 2017 NAS was held for Classes 3, 5 and 8, while the 2021 NAS was for Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10. 3. Significantly, the 2024 survey was aligned with the stages of the National Education Policy 2020, under which Class 3 marks the end of the foundational stage of school education, Class 6 the end of the preparatory stage, and Class 9 the end of the middle stage. The objective of this survey is to evaluate the effectiveness of India's school education system by assessing competencies at various educational stages. 4. According to its findings, Class 3 students recorded an average national score of 64% in language in 2024 — a two-percentage-point increase from 62% in 2021, but lower than the 2017 score of 66.7%. Similarly, in Maths, the national average score in 2024 was 60% — above the 57% recorded in 2021, but below 63% scored in 2017. 5. In terms of the language competencies they were assessed on, Class 3 students scored the lowest (60%) in reading short stories and comprehending their meaning, while they fared best (67%) in knowing and using words to carry out day-to-day interactions. 6. In Maths, Class 3 students fared poorly in geometric shapes and simple money transactions, scoring an average of 50% in both. They performed best (69%) in identifying simple patterns, shapes, and numbers. 7. PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) was set up in 2023 as the National Assessment Centre, with one of its mandates being to organise these achievement surveys. 8. The survey, spearheaded by the NCERT and the CBSE, assesses school students' learning achievements. A sample of school students from government, government-aided and private schools from each district in the country take the assessment. Along with the Parakh survey, there are two other education assessments to gauge learning levels among children. Each tool offers a different lens to India's current education system. Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 1. Since 2005, the NGO Pratham has released the Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) to measure basic reading and arithmetic levels among school children, attendance in school, and other indicators. 2. The 2024 survey, which was released in January this year, recorded major gains in the share of children of the pre-primary age group (3 to 5 years) enrolled in some kind of institution (LKG/UKG/Anganwadi/others). 3. There were substantial increases in reading and arithmetic levels – an encouraging development after the learning losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was also the first full-length ASER survey to record digital literacy among older children (15 and 16 years). Keeping with recent trends, the percentage of children in this age group not enrolled in school has gone down (around 7% today). 4. This year's survey also showed that in terms of digital access, more than 90% of rural adolescents have access to a smartphone. Children were also evaluated on their ability to do tasks such as searching for information online or setting an alarm. In terms of both accessibility and skills, there were some gender gaps. For instance, 80.1% of boys (ages 14 to 16) could browse for information, against 78.6% of girls. In some southern states, girls either outperformed boys or were at the same level as them. 5. According to the report, the basic reading levels for Class 3 children enrolled in government schools have been the highest since the survey began 20 years ago. Reading level: The number of Class 3 children who can read a Class 2 textbook in government schools stands at 23.4%, up from 16.3% in 2022 and 20.9% in the pre-pandemic year of 2018. Overall reading levels, across both government and private schools, too improved from 20.5% in 2022 to 27.1% in 2024, almost touching the pre-pandemic level of 27.3%. Arithmetic levels, too, improved across both government and private schools. The percentage of Class 5 students who can read a Class 2 textbook has gone up from 42.8% in 2022 to 48.7% in 2024. 6. FLS was a one-time nationwide exercise conducted by NCERT in 2022 to assess the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) after the launch of the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat in July 2021. 7. NIPUN is a national mission that aims to enable all children at the end of Grade 3 to attain foundational skills by the year 2026-2027. 8. The FLS Study is a school-based performance assessment where a selected sample of children from grade 3 were assessed by a test administrator in a one-on-one setting where each child responded to a set of questions administered orally. 9. It found that 37 per cent of students enrolled in Class III have 'limited' foundational numeracy skills, such as identifying numbers, while 11 per cent 'lack the most basic knowledge and skills'. 10. It also assessed the literacy skills of students in 20 languages, including English. While 15 per cent lacked 'basic skills' in English, 30 per cent were found to have 'limited skills'. Consider the following statements: 1. Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, released by NITI Aayog, has revealed that the enrollment of students in class III has increased. 2. NIPUN mission aims to enable all children at the end of Grade 3 to attain foundational skills by the year 2026-2027. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Source: Class 3 learning still lower than pre-Covid level: Govt survey, ASER 2024, National survey of students soon: What is it, how it has changed from previous years) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Govt. aided schools fail to sustain results in higher classes: survey
State government and aided schools scored more than private and Central government schools in Class III, but could not sustain the lead in higher classes, the results of the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan have shown. PARAKh Sarvekshan, earlier known as National Achievement Survey, assessed the performance of 46,737 Class III, VI, and IX students in 1,899 schools across the 14 districts in the State. In Class III, State government schools and aided schools scored 78% in Language, which was not only higher than the national average but also than that scored by private and Central government schools (71%). In Mathematics too, the pattern was repeated with government and aided schools scoring 74% while private and Central government schools students scored 63% and 62%, respectively. By Class VI, Central government schools had turned the tables. They had the highest score of 80% in Language, with private schools scoring 77%, aided schools close behind at 76%, and government schools at 75%. In Mathematics too, Central government schools topped with a score of 66%, with the other three management types tied at 59%. In Class IX too, Central government schools performed better. In Language, they scored 82%, just slightly ahead of private schools with 81%. Government and aided schools were tied at 69%. In Mathematics, Central government schools with 52% did much better than private schools that scored 46%. Aided institutions were next with 43% and government schools scored 42%. Education officials said students currently in Class VI in State government and aided schools were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, unlike students in Class III now. Class IX students were also affected to an extent, but their results had to be studied in detail. The result pattern in the State was similar to the all-India trend, they said. While girls in the State did better than boys across all three grades, students from rural schools did better than those in urban schools in Class III, scoring 76% and 75%, respectively, in Language and 71% and 68% in Mathematics. The situation changed by Class VI when urban students edged out rural students by 2 percentage points in Language, Mathematics, and 'The World Around Us.' In Class IX, urban students maintained the advantage on rural students, scoring 1 percentage point more in Mathematics, 2 percentage points more in Science and Social Science, and 4 percentage points more in Language.
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Education minister hosts young Afghan guests for breakfast, leaves all feeling fulfilled
'We have students from other states and countries in Kerala, which could be one of the reasons why the state holds the second position in education,' the minister said, referring to the National Achievement Survey, where the state is ranked below Punjab by a point on the indicator. 'It was lovely to hear them speak Malayalam,' said the school's management committee chairman Suresh Kumar. The children, who are well-versed in English and Hindi as well, fare well in academics and extracurricular activities. The kids' class teachers and school PTA president Gopakumar R also joined them for the visit. Shafiq and his wife Zarghona plan to enrol their youngest children, Maher, 5, and Mehnaz, 3, in the pre-primary section in the coming days. Their eldest son was unable to make it due to health issues. 'This is a land of no complaints,' Shafiq said when asked about his family's equation with Kerala. But with Shafiq's research studies getting over this year, the family may return to their homeland. 'Leaving Kerala might not be something they are looking forward to,' said Suresh, mentioning the friendships that the siblings have built up here. Truly, home is where the heart is!
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
UP Board students outperform peers in private schools at foundation level
Noida: Students of UP board schools have outperformed those in private institutions at the foundational level, exceeding the national average by 4% points in both literacy and numeracy, according to the 2024 PARAKH survey by NCERT. However, performance dipped in higher classes, with the state scoring below average in Classes 6 and 9 across core subjects. The Performance, Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development or PARAKH survey is conducted annually under the ministry of education to evaluate the effectiveness of the school education system by assessing competencies at various educational stages. It replaced NCERT's National Achievement Survey (NAS) last year and seeks to test students at Classes 3 (foundation stage), 6 (preparatory) and 9 (middle stage) on a new framework aligned with global surveys such as the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). A total of 8,865 schools were surveyed, which included 30,817 teachers and 2.53 lakh students. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida The latest data show students of state govt-run schools in UP (74%) performed better than the private-run schools (64%) at the foundational stage. The report showed students of state-run schools, particularly in Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi, did better in Class 3 reading and arithmetic skills, mirroring a wider state trend. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo In Noida, govt schools remained well behind private ones in early learning. Govt schools in the city were categorised as 'emerging' in both foundational and preparatory stages, while Ghaziabad ranked a tier higher in early grades and excelled at the secondary level. In language, where students are assessed on their ability to read and analyse short stories, UP's overall score was 68% at the foundational stage against the national average of 64%. In mathematics—focusing on counting—UP's score was 64%, while India's average was 60%. At the class 6 level, which included three subjects for assessments, the state scored 55% in language and 53% in mathematics—1% point lower than the country's average in each—and 41% in world around us subject, which was 3% points lower than the India average. In class 9, the performance gap in language was 6% points, in mathematics and social science 3% points each, and the gap was 2% points in science. The report also highlighted that the overall performance of girls in language skills in the state remained higher than that of boys in all three classes. Based on the survey and performance of the state, the report suggested strengthening community engagement for a collaborative school environment, as 55% of teachers reported that they did not get any support from self-help groups, and 67% said they did not get any support under corporate social responsibility (CSR). Across the state, 52% of schools did not offer or organise career guidance for students in higher grades, while 69% of students did not have access to laptops, tablets or computers for learning at home.
