Lok Sabha Question No. 4281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-07
Subject: Annual Survey of Education Report (ASER)
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4281 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.01.2019

## Annual Survey of Education Report (ASER)

## 4281. DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU :

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study to access the causes of such low learning levels in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the steps being taken/considered to be taken to reverse the trend; and
- (c) whether the Government plans to harness digital means to increase the learning outcome in the Government primary schools in rural parts of the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (c): Achievement surveys are released in the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) by a non-governmental organization. It is a household survey limited to rural areas of the country. The  Department  of  School  Education  &  Literacy,  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development (MHRD) is not associated with this survey.

To monitor improvement in children's learning levels and to periodically assess the health of the government  education  system  as  a  whole,  the  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and Training (NCERT) has been periodically conducting National Achievement Surveys (NAS) since 2001. NCERT conducted NAS on 13th November, 2017 through  which  the  learning  levels  of around 22 lakh students of Classes III, V and VIII from 1.10 lakh schools across 701 districts in all 36 States and UTs were assessed. Similarly, National Achievement Survey for Class X was also conducted  throughout  the  country  on  February  05,  2018  in  government,  government  aided  and private schools. The learning levels of 1.5 million students in 44,304 schools across 610 districts in 34  States  and  UTs  were  assessed,  in  5  subject  areas  of  English,  Mathematics,  Science,  Social Science and Modern Indian Language (MIL).

District  report  cards  for  NAS  have  been  released  by  this  Department  and  are  available  on MHRD/NCERT website.  These cards contain various sections, including indicating the lowest performing area in Learning Outcomes to enable States to identify learning gaps and take steps to improve the learning outcomes based on the same.

NCERT is facilitating  States  and  UTs  for  post  NAS  activities  to  improve  the  learning  level  of students in the districts which includes community participation, teacher training in Assessment, use  of Science  and  Mathematics  Kits  developed  by  NCERT,  State Text  book  analysis,  use of Early language kit and Early Mathematics kit developed by NCERT, training in child friendly assessment practices for teachers etc.

The  short  terms  actions  include  sharing  of  findings  with  State  level  officers,  and  DIET functionaries in regional workshops and Understanding of the learning gaps in the Districts by the State functionaries.  The medium term goal for NAS includes Sharing of findings of NAS with BRCs,  teachers,  head  teachers,  parents,  SMC  members  and  other  stakeholders,  orientation  of BRCs,  CRCs  and  teachers  on  evolving  learning  strategies  to  enhance  learning  outcomes  at different grade levels, facilitating teachers in using alternative instructional strategies to bridge the learning gaps with the support of State functionaries seeking support from community to improve the learning levels.

During 2018-19 many modules for the post NAS interventions have been initiated which includes understanding the district report cards, pedagogical inputs to target the learning outcomes, school based  assessment,  promoting  experiencial  learning,  sports  and  art      integrated  education  and improving community participation.

Under Samagra Shiksha, various interventions such as Science fair/Exhibition and Talent Search at district level; mathematics and science kits to schools, visit to higher institution of students and learning enhancement of students are also approved. Some of the ICT initiatives i.e. e-pathshala, National  Repository  of  Open  Educational  Resources  (NROER),  have  been  taken  for  improving quality of education. 'e-pathshala' is another platform which contains e-resource for the students and teachers. The e-resources for students include e-books for all subjects from classes I to XII, econtents  (i.e.  audio,  video,  interactive  object,  text  images,  maps),  question  banks,  e-courses  in various subjects etc. All the above mentioned quality interventions are provided at par to schools of rural and urban area.

In order to increase focus on quality of elementary education, the Central rules to the RTE Act, 2009 have been amended on 20th February, 2017 to include reference on class-wise, subject-wise Learning  Outcomes.  The  Learning  Outcomes  for  each  class  in  Languages  (Hindi,  English  and Urdu),  Mathematics,  Environmental  Studies,  Science  and  Social  Science  up  to  the  elementary stage have, accordingly, been finalized and shared with all States and UTs. Learning outcomes have been translated in different languages and serve as a benchmark for student's capabilities to be achieved in each subject & class.