National Achievement Survey (NAS):

GS Paper 2:

Syllabus: Issues related to Education.

Context:

The outcomes of the latest National Achievement Survey (NAS) were recently released.

• The first edition of NAS was carried out in 2001.

What is NAS?

• It is a periodic exercise carried out broadly in alternate years to monitor the health of the country’s school education system.
• Designed by the Ministry of Education along with the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• Objectives: To provide a snapshot of learning outcomes in key subjects at the the end of Classes 3, 5, 8 and 10. These classes are generally seen to mark important stages in the development of a child’s cognitive abilities.

Key findings of NAS 2021:

Compared with 2017, the national average scores of students across subjects have dropped by up to 47 marks.

• In Class 3, the average scores of students in language, maths and Environmental Science have dropped.
• In Class 5, the scores in language, maths and EVS have dropped.
• Class 8 has seen national average scores of language, maths, science and social science come down.
• In Class 10, maths, science, social science, and modern Indian language scores have dropped.

Regional-, gender-, or community-wise variations:

• Except for Punjab and Rajasthan, the performance of nearly all states have declined compared to 2017 levels.
• There were no marked differences between the scores of boys and girls. There were some variations among communities, though.

Implications of the findings:

1. The NAS findings once again highlight the need for urgent interventions to improve foundational learning levels.
2. It will help to unravel the gaps in learning and will support state/UT governments in developing long term, mid-term and short-term interventions to improve learning levels.
3. NAS findings will help in capacity building for teachers, officials involved in the delivery of education.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. NAS.
2. Parameters.
3. Highlights of the latest edition.

Mains Link:

Discuss about the latest outcomes of the latest National Achievement Survey (NAS).

Q.2) Consider the following statements:

1. 1. The first edition of the National Achievement Survey (NAS) was carried out in 2001.
   2. It has been designed by the Ministry of Education along with the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1. 1 only.
   2. 2 only.
   3. Both.
   4. None. 

Sources: Indian Express.