The national Foundational Learning Survey (FLS), a joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Education and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), has recently been concluded. The survey indicates that over 50% of assessed class III children in Delhi either have “limited” foundational numeracy skills or lack the most basic knowledge and skills. This finding is corroborated by the National Achievement Survey (NAS), where Delhi was listed amongst the five states with the lowest average scores in Math and Language for class III students.
About the Foundational Learning Survey
The FLS aims to establish benchmarks for reading proficiency in 22 Indian languages. Conducted in 2022, the FLS is seen as a critical step towards reinforcing efforts for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) under the NIPUN Bharat Mission.
Approximately 86,000 class III children from 10,000 schools across the country participated in the survey. In Delhi, 2,945 students from 515 distinct schools constituted the sample size.
Following their performances in the survey, students were categorized into four groups: those who lacked the most basic knowledge and skills; those who possessed limited knowledge and skills; those who had developed sufficient knowledge and skills; and those who had achieved superior knowledge.
Key Findings of the Survey
According to the survey, 11% of students nationally lack the most basic knowledge and skills while 37% are limited in their knowledge and skills. In terms of language skills, 15% of students in English and 21% in Hindi were found to lack even basic skills.
In numeracy, Tamil Nadu led the list of states with 29% of students unable to complete the most basic grade-level tasks. This was closely followed by Jammu and Kashmir (28%), Assam, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat (18%).
These findings were drawn from interviews with each participant, while the National Achievement Survey based their evaluations on Multiple Choice Questions.
Government’s Initiatives for the Education Sector
In order to boost the education sector in the country, the government has launched several initiatives including the NIPUN Bharat Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and the Mid Day Meal Scheme.
Role of the National Council of Educational Research and Training
Established in 1961 by the Government of India, The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) operates autonomously. It assists and advises the Central and State Governments on policies and programmes aimed at enhancing the quality of school education.
The NCERT comprises several constituent units located across the country, including the National Institute of Education (NIE), the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), the Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE), and the Regional Institute of Education (RIE).