Mumbai: 90 per cent of students selected appear for National Assessment Survey test

Teachers had initially said it was unfair to gauge the understanding levels of students when they have been away from school for more than one-and-a-half years. Representation pic

Even after the National Assessment Survey (NAS) was subjected to major opposition and criticism in Maharashtra, data shows significant response from students. While all selected schools agreed to participate in the survey, more than 90 per cent of the selected students appeared for the test held on November 12.

NAS, aimed at assisting learning skills among students from Std III, V, VIII and X, had come under the scanner after educationists criticised the state's decision to participate in the exam this year. Teachers had said it was unfair to gauge the understanding levels of students when they have been away from school for more than one-and-a-half years. They also pointed out that in many parts of Maharashtra in-person classes for standards III and V have not even started yet. A big part of the school education sector also questioned the timing of NAS as it clashed with Diwali vacation. Parents, too, had opposed it in view of the fear of the impending third wave of COVID-19. mid-day covered the issues in a news report on October 31.

However, despite the opposition, the test was held successfully with all selected schools participating and more than 90 per cent of selected students appearing for it. As per the data shared by the office of the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in Mumbai, of the 9,579 selected students, 8,675 appeared for it.

"There was major opposition from schools and teachers to the NAS test, but the response data after the test shows a completely different picture. There was a growing demand that the state should not participate in NAS this year because of the pandemic situation. However, the data shows that it was good that the state participated, else Maharashtra's performance would not have been recorded in the national database," said a senior official from the school education department.

"There was opposition from parents too, especially for standards III and V as the students of these classes are still attending classes online and sending these students to school for one test was an area of concern. But after parents were counselled, many showed positive responses," said the principal of a Goregaon school.

Vikas Garad, deputy director of SCERT, who provided the data, said, "All districts of Maharashtra participated in the process and schools were able to successfully hold the test. None of the selected schools declined to participate and the number of students too was significantly high."