Municipal School Benchmarking Study 2007

Municipal School Benchmarking Study 2007 (alias A Benchmarking Study of Student Achievement in Local Body Schools of Large Towns of Select)

This benchmarking study specifically aimed to establish a baseline of student achievement levels in 30 towns across 5 states in India. This study was funded by ICICI Bank. The study tested 35000 students from urban municipal (govt.) schools and 3000 students from low cost private schools with respect to specific skills and competencies that they were supposed to have acquired. The study was carried out in 6 towns in each of 5 states - Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Uttranchal . The sample for the study included students of classes 2, 4 and 6. The students were tested in 3 subjects – Language, Maths and Environmental Science (EVS).

Some very fundamental questions that the study tried to address were: ‘Children are going to schools and are being taught’ - but are they really learning and understanding what is taught to them? How much are they retaining? Is learning happening at a superficial level? And are our children learning mechanically? Is there a connection between the states’ textbooks and what the children are actually achieving? What do children at different levels of the attainment know and are able to do? Are children of some states and towns doing better than others, if so, how?

The results are interesting and show that apart from low learning levels, students harbor a number of misconceptions. Students may be learning from environment and not necessarily from formal instruction. States like AP are doing comparatively well overall at such low learning levels, possibly by the focus of state programs on rote/mechanical instruction. The study also reveals interesting insights into background variables such as being instructed by a female teacher improves one’s chances of doing well in language, etc.

The study also reported the misconceptions and common errors students make in Maths and EVS. Student and teacher interviews were conducted and video recorded for understanding issues related to reading difficulties and student misconceptions.

Write to us at info@ei-india.com to read the report.