Learning Ability of Students

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, conducts periodic National Learners’ Achievement Surveys. Two rounds of the National Learners’ Achievement Survey for classes III, V & VIII and the third round of survey for class V have been conducted in 2001-2004, 2005-2008 and 2009-10 respectively, which reveal improvements in the overall learning levels of children in Mathematics and Language subjects in most States.

To improve the learning levels of children, steps taken under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan include, inter alia, sanction of more than 19 lakh teachers to improve the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR), sanction of 1,94,574 primary school buildings, 1,07,682 upper primary school buildings, more than 18 lakh additional classrooms to improve school infrastructure, as well as in-service training for teachers, regular academic support to teachers and schools as well as free text books to children.

Further, under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE), Act, 2009, the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) has notified the minimum qualifications and also made the holding of Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory to improve the quality/standard of teachers.