Current State of Education in India
The situation within Indian schools is critical, with a significant disconnect between school attendance and effective learning outcomes.
Key Findings from PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024
- 43% of Class 6 students cannot grasp the main idea in a text.
- 63% of Class 9 students struggle with basic maths.
- The survey tested over 21 lakh students from Classes 3, 6, and 9 across 74,229 schools in 781 districts, covering all 36 states and UTs.
Challenges Identified
These findings resonate with earlier reports such as Pratham’s ASER, highlighting systemic issues in India's education foundation.
- NEP 2020 emphasizes foundational literacy and numeracy.
- Classroom reforms are insufficient alone; broader ecosystem influences learning.
Factors Affecting Educational Outcomes
- Family background and community support.
- School infrastructure and the quality of teachers.
- Access to electricity and digital tools is linked with better student performance.
Recommendations for Improvement
- Shift curriculum and assessment away from rote learning.
- Invest in foundational learning and teacher training.
- Enhance pedagogical support and expand school-family linkages.
- Early identification of struggling students is crucial.
Global Insights
- UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report 2024-25 stresses the importance of investment in leadership.
- Recommendations include standardised principal training, gender-sensitive recruitment, and clearly defined roles for educational leaders.
India risks losing valuable time and potential by not addressing these educational challenges effectively.
