Kerala regains lost ground to emerge second in National Achievement Survey

Kerala has improved its ranking to second in the National Achievement Survey, renamed PARAKH Rashtriya Sarveskshan, conducted in 2024.

Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty, at a press conference here on Wednesday, said the survey results were a huge achievement for the State. It should be recalled that Kerala had made the gains despite the Union government holding back funds due to the State under Centrally sponsored education schemes.

The State was ranked third in class III, first in class VI, and second in class IX. The survey was conducted by PARAKH in the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), in collaboration with CBSE, New Delhi, under the Union Ministry of Education in December to not only understand learning achievements of students but also assess the overall health of school education in the country.

The last iteration of the survey in 2021 was conducted for classes III, V, VIII, and X. In 2024, students of classes III, VI, and IX were tested on Language, Mathematics, ‘World Around Us,’ Science, and Social Science. As many as 45,737 students from 1,644 schools in the State took part in the survey.

Mr. Sivankutty said that in class III the State had improved its scores in 2024 as compared to that in 2021. In Language, Kerala’s average was 75% while the national average was 64%. In 2021, the State average was 70%. In Mathematics, the State average in 2024 was 70%, while the national average was 60%. In 2021, the State score was 60%.

In 2024, the State average for class VI in Language was 76% while the national average was 57%. In 2021, the State average for class V students in Language was 57%. In Mathematics, the State average for class VI students was 60%, while the national average was 46%. In 2021, the State average for class V students was 41, while the national average was 44%. In Science, the national average was 66, while the national average was 49% in 2024 for class VI students. In 2021, the State and the national average for class V students were 48%.

In 2024, the State average in Language for class IX students was 74% while the national average was 54%. In 2021, the State average in Language for class VIII students was 57%.

In Mathematics, the State average in 2024 for class IX students was 45% while the national average was 37%. In 2021, the State average for class VIII students was 31% while the national average was 36%.

In Science, the State average in 2024 for class IX students was 53% and the national average 40%. In Social Science, the State average in 2024 was 51 and the national average was 40%.

The Minister said that good progress had been seen in all subjects in class III and VI as also in class IX. These were the result of the work put in by students, teachers, parents, the department, and the government.

Director of General Education Shanavas S. said the survey results showed that the State had regained lost ground quickly. Only some points separated it from the leader Punjab in class III results. In class VI, both States were tied, and in class IX there was only a difference of one percentage point between the two States.

“We have excelled in all parameters. We will further boost the comprehensive quality education programme and any lacunae that remained last year will be addressed,” he said.