Class 3 learning recovery remains below 2017 pre‑Covid level: Government survey
Strong in everyday vocabulary and number patterns; weak in comprehension and shapes
Classes 6 and 9 scored below 50% in most subjects, bar language
The Centre's latest PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan survey reveals that although Class3 students have made modest gains since the pandemic, their performance has not yet returned to pre-Covid levels.
The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan previously known as the National Achievement Survey, assessed over 21 lakh students in Classes 3, 6 and 9 across 74,229 schools in December 2024.
Only Class 3 results are directly comparable across the rounds, as it is the sole grade common to the 2017, 2021 and 2024 assessments. The 2017 NAS included Classes 3,5 and 8, while 2021 covered Classes 3, 5, 8 and10, limiting longitudinal comparisons. WHAT WAS ASSESSED UNDER PARAKH 2024 Class 3 students were evaluated on foundational stage competencies, with an assessment duration of 90 minutes.
Class 6 students were assessed in Language, Mathematics, and The World Around Us (TWAU), also within a 90-minute timeframe.
Class 9 students were evaluated in Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, with the assessment lasting 120 minutes.
The survey also gathered in-depth information on learning conditions through Teacher Questionnaires (TQ), School Questionnaires (SQ), and Pupil Questionnaires (PQ). FOUNDATIONAL STAGE SCORES REMAIN BELOW 2017
Class 3 students scored an average of 64% in language and 60% in mathematics in 2024. These figures show improvement over 2021, when averages stood at 62% in language and 57% in maths.
However, they still fall short of the 2017 pre-Covid benchmarks of 66.7% (language) and 63% (maths). PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan previously known as the National Achievement Survey, assessed over 21 lakh students in Classes 3,6 and9 across 74,229 schools in December 2024.
In language, students performed best in using everyday vocabulary (67%), but struggled with reading short stories and comprehension, scoring around 60%. In mathematics, strengths were seen in identifying simple patterns and numbers (69%).
However, understanding geometric shapes and handling basic money transactions remained weak, with average scores of only 50%.
For Classes 6 and 9, average national scores in most subjects were under 50%, except for language. A senior education ministry official attributed this disappointing performance to students losing nearly two years of formal schooling during the pandemic. PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY Competency-Based Assessment: The survey assessed entire schools rather than just individual students, offering insights into stage-specific learning competencies and highlighting systemic strengths and weaknesses.
Data-Driven Policy Making: Findings from the survey were intended to inform educational reforms and policymaking, ensuring that decisions were based on real-world classroom data.
Alignment with NEP 2020: The initiative reflected the core principles of the National Education Policy by promoting an inclusive, equitable, and holistic approach to education.
Empowerment of Educators: The data collected was aimed at helping teachers and school leaders improve their teaching strategies and better address students' diverse learning needs.
The survey was conducted on 4 December 2024, covering government, aided and private schools, and marks the transition from NAS to PARAKH in assessing student competencies.
The Centre's latest PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan survey reveals that although Class3 students have made modest gains since the pandemic, their performance has not yet returned to pre-Covid levels.
The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan previously known as the National Achievement Survey, assessed over 21 lakh students in Classes 3, 6 and 9 across 74,229 schools in December 2024.
Only Class 3 results are directly comparable across the rounds, as it is the sole grade common to the 2017, 2021 and 2024 assessments. The 2017 NAS included Classes 3,5 and 8, while 2021 covered Classes 3, 5, 8 and10, limiting longitudinal comparisons. WHAT WAS ASSESSED UNDER PARAKH 2024 Class 3 students were evaluated on foundational stage competencies, with an assessment duration of 90 minutes.
Class 6 students were assessed in Language, Mathematics, and The World Around Us (TWAU), also within a 90-minute timeframe.
Class 9 students were evaluated in Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, with the assessment lasting 120 minutes.
The survey also gathered in-depth information on learning conditions through Teacher Questionnaires (TQ), School Questionnaires (SQ), and Pupil Questionnaires (PQ). FOUNDATIONAL STAGE SCORES REMAIN BELOW 2017
Class 3 students scored an average of 64% in language and 60% in mathematics in 2024. These figures show improvement over 2021, when averages stood at 62% in language and 57% in maths.
However, they still fall short of the 2017 pre-Covid benchmarks of 66.7% (language) and 63% (maths). PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan previously known as the National Achievement Survey, assessed over 21 lakh students in Classes 3,6 and9 across 74,229 schools in December 2024.
In language, students performed best in using everyday vocabulary (67%), but struggled with reading short stories and comprehension, scoring around 60%. In mathematics, strengths were seen in identifying simple patterns and numbers (69%).
However, understanding geometric shapes and handling basic money transactions remained weak, with average scores of only 50%.
For Classes 6 and 9, average national scores in most subjects were under 50%, except for language. A senior education ministry official attributed this disappointing performance to students losing nearly two years of formal schooling during the pandemic. PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY Competency-Based Assessment: The survey assessed entire schools rather than just individual students, offering insights into stage-specific learning competencies and highlighting systemic strengths and weaknesses.
Data-Driven Policy Making: Findings from the survey were intended to inform educational reforms and policymaking, ensuring that decisions were based on real-world classroom data.
Alignment with NEP 2020: The initiative reflected the core principles of the National Education Policy by promoting an inclusive, equitable, and holistic approach to education.
Empowerment of Educators: The data collected was aimed at helping teachers and school leaders improve their teaching strategies and better address students' diverse learning needs.
The survey was conducted on 4 December 2024, covering government, aided and private schools, and marks the transition from NAS to PARAKH in assessing student competencies. Join our WhatsApp Channel
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Indian Express
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The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan, which was called the National Achievement Survey (NAS) in previous iterations, assessed 21.15 lakh students in Classes 3, 6, and 9 across 74,229 schools in December 2024. 1. Class 3 students assessed in language and Mathematics fared better compared to 2021, when learning levels were captured in the wake of the pandemic and the resultant disruptions in education, but their scores remained lower than the pre-Covid level in 2017. 2. Notably, the scores of only Class 3 can be compared with 2017 and 2021 since it is the only common class in all three rounds of assessment. The 2017 NAS was held for Classes 3, 5 and 8, while the 2021 NAS was for Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10. 3. Significantly, the 2024 survey was aligned with the stages of the National Education Policy 2020, under which Class 3 marks the end of the foundational stage of school education, Class 6 the end of the preparatory stage, and Class 9 the end of the middle stage. 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While 15 per cent lacked 'basic skills' in English, 30 per cent were found to have 'limited skills'. Consider the following statements: 1. Parakh Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, released by NITI Aayog, has revealed that the enrollment of students in class III has increased. 2. NIPUN mission aims to enable all children at the end of Grade 3 to attain foundational skills by the year 2026-2027. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Source: Class 3 learning still lower than pre-Covid level: Govt survey, ASER 2024, National survey of students soon: What is it, how it has changed from previous years) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Time of India
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The Hindu
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