Delhi govt school students' ability to read textbooks jumps by 15 pc

The learning ability of Delhi government school students has improved significantly over the past year, with a new report suggesting today that 63 per cent of children in classes 3-9 are now able read their textbooks.

Only 48 per cent students in those classes were able to read their textbooks last year, according to the National Achievement Survey 2017 published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training.

Following the NCERT survey, the AAP government in April this year launched the 'Mission Buniyaad' scheme with an aim to ensure that all children of classes 3-9 are able to read, write and solve basic mathematics problems.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia released the findings of the scheme today, which suggested that the ability of children in these classes to read their textbooks has improved.

"Before the campaign, about 48 per cent students in classes 3-9 of Delhi government schools could read their textbook, now it is 63 per cent. Similarly, the ability to solve division has gone up from 54 per cent to 71 per cent," according to the new findings documented in the report.

About 52 per cent students enrolled in classes 3-9 of Delhi government schools formed the target group of the mission. In terms of absolute number, this is about 4.21 lakh.

"Out of these children, about 1.18 lakh (28 per cent of the target group) learnt to read their textbooks and about 1.4 lakh (38 per cent of the target group) learnt to solve division problems of Maths," the report added.

Sisodia, also the education minister of Delhi, said that the Directorate of Education has decided to extend the mission until July.