Uttar Pradesh has reached a significant milestone in school education by surpassing the national average in language and mathematics competencies among Class 3 students, as per the latest PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 report. This comes after the state made significant progress in the School Performance Index earlier this year, signalling a deeper shift in learning outcomes at the foundational level.
The survey, conducted under the aegis of PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), assesses students’ competency levels across classes and subjects, aiming to provide a detailed overview of the effectiveness of school education across India.
As per the findings shared by the Union Ministry of Education with the Uttar Pradesh government, 68 per cent of Class 3 students in UP were found competent in language, and 64 per cent in mathematics. These numbers are higher than the national average of 64 per cent in language and 60 per cent in mathematics.
In stark contrast, in 2021, only 55 per cent of UP’s Class 3 students were competent in these subjects, lagging behind the national average of 59 per cent. The improvement reflects an impressive leap and demonstrates the success of focused interventions at the foundational learning level.
Class 3 top-performing districts like Kasganj, Shamli, Auraiya, Ambedkar Nagar, and Mahoba have shown strong results, thanks to focused efforts on improving basic reading and math skills.
The PARAKH assessment also evaluated the academic performance of students in Classes 6 and 9, where Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated steady progress. Among Class 6 girls in the state, 55 per cent were found competent in language, closely matching the national average of 57 per cent, while 45 per cent showed proficiency in mathematics, just a point below the national average of 46 per cent. Districts such as Kanpur, Shravasti, Kasganj, Shamli, and Aligarh stood out for their strong performance, reflecting the effectiveness of focused efforts to reduce gender and regional disparities in education.
In Class 9, although UP’s scores were slightly lower than the national averages, 38 per cent in science (vs 40 per cent nationally), 34 per cent in mathematics (vs 37 per cent), and 37 per cent in social sciences (vs 40 per cent), the gap is narrowing, indicating a positive trend. Notably, districts like Varanasi, Kanpur Nagar, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Shamli have emerged as centers of academic excellence, underscoring the growing regional strength in the state’s educational landscape.
Speaking about the good results of the PARAKH National Survey 2024, Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh said that Uttar Pradesh’s success shows what can be done when good policies, proper planning, and strong efforts work together. He said this is not just about better numbers, but also a sign that real changes are happening in schools, especially in villages and small towns. He added that even a big and diverse state like UP can become a role model in education if the government stays committed and works hard. He is hopeful that this positive change will continue and reach more parts of the state in the coming years.
These achievements have been made possible by key initiatives such as the NIPUN Bharat Mission, improved teacher training, regular student assessments, active community involvement, and a strong emphasis on basic learning skills as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The state’s education department is now preparing targeted measures to further enhance learning outcomes in Classes 6 and 9.
The full national report will be released on July 2, which will provide a more comprehensive view of how UP compares with other states across all classes and subjects.
As Uttar Pradesh continues to invest in systemic reforms and data-driven education policies, the state’s recent performance offers a promising glimpse into the potential of India’s most populous state to lead the way in foundational learning.
