PANAJI
Students from Goa performed above the national average in Classes VI and IX, with state students outperforming the national average across all subjects — Language, Mathematics, World Around Us, Science and Social Science.
However, pupils from the State government-run schools were found to be underperforming, according to NCERT PARAKH’s Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 survey findings, released earlier this week.
What was more interesting to note was the performance of the Other Backward Class (OBC) students, who managed to score either above or par with the national average across all grades -- Foundation Stage (Class III), Preparatory Stage (Class VI) and Middle Stage (Class IX).
The survey was conducted across 269 schools in the State covering 6,464 students of Class III, VI and IX.
As per the report, the performance of Class III students in Mathematics and Language remained below national average. The students at the foundation stage scored 56 per cent in language and 51 per cent in mathematics as against the national average of 64 per cent and 60 per cent respectively. The survey covered 2015 students across 94 schools.
The survey of 2003 students of Class VI, showed exceptional result with students scoring above national average in language, mathematics and World Around Us. Students scored 61 per cent in language as against the national average of 57 per cent while in Mathematics the score was 47 per cent, little above the national benchmark of 46 per cent. Under The World Around Us, students scored 52 per cent, while the national average was at 49 per cent.
The data shows that in the government schools, students scored 11 per cent lower in Language, 10 per cent lower in Mathematics, and 13 per cent lower in The World Around Us than the national average of 52 per cent, 43 per cent and 47 per cent respectively.
However, the students from the Government-aided schools scored 8 per cent higher in Language, 4 per cent higher in Mathematics, and 5 per cent higher in The World Around Us than the national average 52 per cent, 40 per cent and 42 per cent.
Further, the Class IX or middle stage students’ performance remained above national average for Language -62 per cent (NA-54 per cent), Science- 44 per cent (NA-40 per cent) and Social Science -42 per cent (NA 40 per cent). The State students’ score in mathematics was par with the national average of 37 per cent.
Here too, in the State government schools, students scored 3 per cent lower in Mathematics (NA 33 per cent) and Science (NA 37 per cent), and 4 per cent lower in Social Science (NA 37 per cent). The performance in Language was at par with the national average of 48 per cent.
In Government-aided schools, students scored 12 per cent higher in Language, 2 per cent higher in Science and Social Science. The performance in Mathematics was at par with the national average of 33 per cent.
Pointing to the learning gaps, the survey highlights the need for focused interventions to strengthen students’ skills, refine instructional strategies, and provide additional learning support. Addressing these areas effectively will help improve overall student learning outcomes in the state.
It also recommended use of innovative assessment strategies like peer assessment, self-assessment, portfolio, and project work are key to effective learning.
