Question : LEARNING ABILITY OF STUDENTS

(a) whether the Government is satisfied with the quality and standard of education being implemented in Government Schools;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the remedial measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether as per findings of Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) brought out by a Non Government Organisation (NGO), the reading as well as basic arithmetic ability level of primary school students has declined in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;

(e) whether the Government proposes to assist the States where abilities of students are below the national average and if so, the details thereof; State-wise; and

(f) the other corrective measures being taken to improve learning levels among these students?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (f): The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which uses a rigorous research methodology, conducts very detailed periodic national surveys of learning achievements of children in classes – III, V and VII/VIII. Three rounds of National Learners’ Achievement Surveys have been completed by the NCERT which have revealed improvements in the overall learning levels, even though they remain low which is matter of concern. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), a study without a robust methodology brought out annually by an Non Governmental Organisation called PRATHAM, expressed concern regarding learning levels of children in schools in rural areas.

Under the SSA, the State Governments and UT Administrations are supported financially to improve the quality of elementary education, including interalia, programmes to improve foundational learning levels in language and mathematics in early primary grades, strengthening science and mathematics teaching-learning at upper primary level and a system of continuous and comprehensive evaluation system with regular state level learning assessment surveys, to assess learning outcomes of children, in order to improve quality and standards of academic performance.