A report titled “Foundational Learning Study 2022′ was conducted by the Union education ministry and the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
Key Points
- 37% of 86,000 Class 3 students surveyed across 10,000 schools in 20 languages showed limited foundational numeracy knowledge and skills and 11% lacked most basic knowledge and skills.
- Each student responded to a set of questions orally for the study.
- Unlike the National Achievement Survey (NAS), which evaluates learning outcomes of students in Classes III, V, VIII and X through a test based on multiple choice questions (MCQs) every three years, the findings of the Foundational Learning Study (FLS) were based on one-to-one interviews with each participant.
- The students were categorised into four groups on the basis of their performances including lack of most basic knowledge and skills, limited knowledge and skills, sufficient knowledge and skills, and superior knowledge and skills.
- The study covered both foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
- Overall nationally, 11% of the respondents could not complete the most basic grade-level tasks, 37% partially completed basic grade-level tasks, 42% successfully completed the task.
- Only 10% were found to have developed superior skills.
- Tamil Nadu had the highest number of students (29%) lacking basic numeracy skills, followed by Jammu & Kashmir (28%), Assam, and Gujarat (18% each).
- The foundational literacy skills included oral language comprehension, phonological awareness, decoding, reading comprehension, and oral reading fluency with comprehension.
- The findings will set the baseline for National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy scheme launched last year nationally to enable students at the end of Class 3 to attain foundational skills by 2026-2027.
