New Delhi: Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia has requested the Union Ministry of Education to postpone the National Achievement Survey (NAS) — which will test students on their competency in various subjects — scheduled to be held Friday. Sisodia’s request stems from the fact that many children are still not attending school because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sisodia took to Twitter Thursday to make his appeal to the central government. “Govt. of India plans to do student Achievement Survey in Education across the country for classes 3, 5, 8 & 10 tomorrow. Whose achievement will it test when most children are not even coming to school? Would request Hon. Ministry of Education to please postpone NAS for now immediately,” he tweeted.
Govt. of India plans to do student Achievement Survey in Education across the country for classes 3, 5, 8 & 10 tomorrow
Whose achievement will it test when most children are not even coming to school?
Would request Hon. @EduMinOfIndia to please postpone NAS for now immediately pic.twitter.com/3OCM91M41t
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) November 11, 2021
The Ministry of Education had announced Wednesday that the NAS will be conducted across the country Friday, for children studying in classes 3, 5, 8 and 10. According to the ministry, 38 lakh students in 733 districts across 36 states and UTs will be covered under the survey. It is aimed at testing basic language, mathematics, and social science knowledge of the children in these classes.
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No physical classes or low attendance for juniors
The survey would see officials from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) visiting schools to test students. However, this can be a challenge, as children in junior classes are still not going to school in some states due to the pandemic.
According to a press release issued by the MoE on 2 November, schools in West Bengal and Manipur are still closed and many other states have reopened schools only for those studying in Classes 6 to 12.
According to the ministry’s press release, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Punjab and Gujarat have reopened schools only for students in Classes 6 to 12. Children studying in Classes 3 and 5, who are expected to participate in the NAS survey, are likely to miss out since schools are yet to open for them.
In Delhi, attendance is optional for students in junior classes. Schools reopened for students below Class 9 from 1 November, but attendance is not compulsory and they can choose to study from home. Those who are attending physical classes are expected to have written consent from their parents.
According to recent reports, attendance has been low in schools in Delhi since they reopened for the junior classes.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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