Lok Sabha Question No. 4362 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-07
Subject: National Achievement Survey 2017
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4362 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.01.2019

## National Achievement Survey 2017

## 4362. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

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

- (a)  whether  the  National  Council  of  Education  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  recently released National Achievement Survey, 2017;
- (b) if so, the number of districts and students covered under this survey, State/ UT-wise;
- (c) whether it is a fact that there is low learning levels in higher class as 40 per cent of students can not answer the questions in Maths, Sciences and Social Science;
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the staff crunch, crowded class rooms and inadequate funds are responsible for low learning in higher classes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the trend of learning levels in urban areas along with the steps taken or being taken by the Government in consultation with States in this regard?

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

(a)  to  (f):  National  Achievement  Survey  (NAS)  was  conducted  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.  Students  of Classes III and V were assessed on Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Environmental Studies  and  Class  VIII  students  were  assessed  on  Language,  Maths,  Science  and  Social Science. This competency based assessment was based on the Learning Outcomes developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Along with the test items,  questionnaires  pertaining  to  students,  teachers  and  schools  were  also  used.  District report cards for NAS 2017 have been released and are available on MHRD website.

NAS evidences that the performance of the students decreases with the advancement of the grade  in  general.  The  NAS  2017 was  conducted  on  Learning  Outcomes  for  the  first time.  The items assessing the performance of the students were all competencies based.

NCERT has initiated the post NAS activities to improve the Learning levels of the students in rural  and  urban  areas.    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, and 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.

Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and  a majority of the schools are under the jurisdiction of respective States and Union Territories (UT). Hence, the infrastructure and teachers related aspects of education are primarily in the domain of respective State Governments and UT Administrations. However, the requirement of infrastructural facilities in schools are worked out every year by the respective State/Union Territory on incremental basis depending on their need and priority and this is reflected in their Annual Work Plan and Budget. The Central Government through  the    Samagra  Shiksha  scheme  provide  assistance  to    the  States  and  UTs  for    school infrastructural facilities and for additional teachers to maintain appropriate Pupil Teacher Ratio, as per norms. Further Samagra Shiksha supports States and UTs on early grade reading, writing & comprehension,  and  early  Mathematics  programmes  through  a  sub-programme  namely  'Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat' (PBBB) in foundational years of schooling. Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyan (RAA) was also launched to motivate and engage children of the age group from 6-18 years in Science, Mathematics and Technology through observation, experimentation, inference drawing, model building, etc. both through inside and outside classroom activities.

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