The State Educational Achievement Survey by PARAKH has been conducted to understand the baseline performance in the development of the competencies at the end of the foundational, preparatory and middle stages, as per the release.
The completion of the State Educational Achievement Survey, conducted on 3 November 2023, marks a significant achievement in the assessment of educational competencies among students at the block level in India at grades 3, 6 and 9, it added.
This survey covered approximately 80 lakh students from 3 lakh schools at 5917 blocks across the nation. It also includes 6 lakh teachers and more than 3 lakh field investigators.
As per the officials, the primary objective of this survey is to assess the learning competencies of students at the end of each educational stage, i.e., foundational, preparatory and middle with a primary focus on Language and Mathematics. Barring Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal, all other States and UTs participated in the implementation of the survey.
Tools to assess students’ competencies were designed using scientific procedures, while the assessment methodology employed a paper-pen-based approach with OMR technology for data capture and analysis, which ensured the precision and efficiency of data acquisition and validation.
Sanjay Kumar, secretary, DoSE&L, Ministry of Education, emphasised that with the successful execution of the State Educational Achievement Survey 2023, crucial insights into the strengths and potential areas for enhancement within the education system will be available. These insights will form the bedrock for evidence-based policies and initiatives directed towards enriching the quality of education for the students, he added.
One of the features of the State Educational Achievement Survey (SEAS) 2023 conducted by PARAKH was the expansion of the sample size to understand the learning gaps at the block level, a strategic shift from the district. This transition was inspired by the objective of catering to a larger number of students and effectively understanding the performance at a deeper level. Furthermore, this approach also encompassed teachers’ professional development programmes at the block level.
Shri Vipin Kumar, Additional Secretary, DoSE&L, Ministry of Education, said that the State Educational Achievement Survey by PARAKH encompassed a substantial sample of approximately 8 million learners. He also informed that this assessment, with the educational block as the finest unit of analysis, will carry profound implications for education policies, encompassing teacher training programs and the creation of teaching and learning support resources.