Findings of National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021

Source: The post findings of National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021 has been created, based on the article “Disparities in schooling quality need to end for better outcomes” published in “Live mints” on 6th June 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- governance- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education

Context: The article discusses the importance of not just access to education but also its quality. It highlights disparities in educational outcomes across Indian states and suggests solutions like better teaching practices and targeted interventions to improve learning outcomes for all students.

For detailed information on National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 read this article here

What are the main findings of the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021?

1. Decline in Performance: Compared to NAS 2017, student performance has declined significantly across grades.

Class 3 scores dropped by 3.9% in Language, 4.7% in Mathematics, and 4.4% in Environmental Studies (EVS).

Class 10 scores fell by 13.4% in Mathematics, 18.6% in Science, and 9.1% in Social Science.

2. Disparities Across States: States like Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana excel, while Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Chhattisgarh lag behind.
3. Performance Drop with Progression: Scores decline as students advance from Class 3 to Class 10.

Language scores fell from 64.6% in Class 3 to 52% in Class 10.

Mathematics scores dropped from 61.2% in Class 3 to 44% in Class 10.

For detailed information on National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021 read this article here

Why are there declines in performance?

1. Shift in Assessment Style: The move from rote learning to competency-based assessments challenges students not used to this approach.
2. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic: Disruptions in regular schooling due to the pandemic contributed significantly to learning losses.
3. Inadequate Foundational Learning: Students’ foundational skills in early grades are not strong enough, leading to compounded difficulties in higher grades.
4. Insufficient Reinforcement of Concepts: According to Jerome Bruner’s Spiral Curriculum Theory, a lack of regular revisitation and reinforcement of core concepts leads to gaps in knowledge as students’ progress.

How does the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education 2023 address quality disparities?

1. It aims to define learning standards clearly and systematically align educational goals with measurable outcomes, supporting the core vision of the NEP 2020.
2. By detailing specific learning outcomes, the NCF allows for precise assessment and targeted interventions, which help educators identify and close learning gaps effectively.
3. The framework includes operational guidelines for adapting learning outcomes to different contexts and customizing teaching strategies, ensuring that all students meet set competencies.
4. These measures contribute to reducing educational quality disparities, as highlighted by the disparities in NAS 2021 data.

For more information on National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education 2023 read Article 1, Article 2

What should be done?

1. Strengthen Foundational Learning: The NEP 2020 aims to ensure all children achieve foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3, with an emphasis on a shift from rote learning to holistic, integrated, and experiential learning approaches.
2. Enhance Teacher Training: The NEP 2020’s focus on continuous professional development and the establishment of National Professional Standards for Teachers to elevate teaching quality.
3. Use Data-Driven Approaches: Utilize NAS data to identify and address specific areas where students are underperforming, ensuring targeted interventions.
4. Promote Competency-Based Education: The NEP 2020 promotes shifting from memorization to competency-based education, ensuring students master essential skills before moving on to more advanced topics.
5. Engage Community and Parents: Actively involve parents and communities in the educational process, making them partners in improving education.
6. Align State Policies with NEP 2020: Ensure that state education policies support the goals of NEP 2020, particularly around foundational learning and teacher training.
7. Implement Bloom’s Mastery Learning: Emphasize mastery of lower-order cognitive skills before advancing to higher-order thinking skills. This approach ensures that students fully understand the material at each stage of their education before moving on to more complex concepts.

Question for practice:

Examine the key factors contributing to the decline in student performance, and what should be done to address this?