Govt’s efforts under ‘NIPUN Bharat Mission’ in FY 2024-25 earn UP a new identity on national education map

Lucknow : When colourful smart-class panels glow in once-spartan primary school halls, and teachers stride into classrooms armed with tablets and updated diaries, it signals more than just a makeover—it heralds a sweeping transformation of Uttar Pradesh’s education system into a bedrock of public confidence. The latest PARAKH National Achievement Survey 2024 underscores this shift, with Class 3 students from the state outpacing their peers nationwide.

In the survey, UP’s Class 3 cohort achieved an average of 68 percent in language and 64 percent in mathematics, surpassing the national averages of 64 percent and 60 percent, respectively. This performance marks a remarkable improvement since the 2017 National Achievement Survey—UP’s language score climbed 10 points (from 58 percent to 68 percent), while its math score rose 5 points (from 59 percent to 64 percent). These gains not only place Uttar Pradesh in the national spotlight but also attest to the state’s concerted efforts to strengthen foundational learning through smart classes, enhanced libraries, and targeted teacher training.

The PARAKH survey included private, government, aided, and madarsa schools, making this achievement more than just a statistical milestone. It is a direct result of the strategic efforts carried out by the Yogi Government under the NIPUN Bharat Mission.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state has taken comprehensive and mission-mode steps to improve the quality of primary education. These actions, under the NIPUN Bharat Mission and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, have now begun to yield measurable outcomes, bringing Uttar Pradesh a distinct identity on the national education map.

NIPUN Bharat Mission: A new direction for foundational learning

The Education Department aims to ensure grade-level proficiency in reading, writing, and numeracy for children from Balvatika to Grade 2 by 2026–27. To facilitate structured learning in every council school, the government has provided resources like teaching guides, print-rich materials, math kits, TLMs, library books, teacher diaries, and the ‘Talika’ tool. Additionally, more than 4.53 lakh teachers and Shiksha Mitras have been empowered with foundational literacy and numeracy skills through four-day training sessions at the block level. Post-training, continuous academic support is being provided to make classroom teaching more engaging and effective.

Collaborative monitoring and the role of teacher groups

A robust collaborative monitoring system has been developed with 5 ARPs in every block, 3 SRGs per district, and selected mentors at each DIET. Under this structure, ARPs observe 30 schools per month, SRGs 20 schools, and DIET mentors 10 schools. Monthly meetings of teacher clusters (Shikshak Sankul) have become platforms for innovation, feedback, and the exchange of best teaching practices.

New assessment framework and ‘NIPUN schools’

To gauge the actual learning levels of students, tools like Talika, Spot Assessments, NIPUN Assessment Tests, and NIPUN School Evaluations have been adopted. As a result, 48,061 schools have been recognized as ‘NIPUN Schools’ during the academic session 2024–25. In the same spirit, Uttar Pradesh achieved major success in the National Achievement Survey 2024 conducted by PARAKH.

The assessment included students from classes 3, 6, and 9, where class 3 students scored above the national average in both language and mathematics—marking the first time students from government schools in the state have surpassed the national average in a nationwide evaluation. Improvements were also noted in the performance of students from classes 6 and 9.

To conduct the PARAKH survey, Dr. Pawan Sachan, then Director of SCERT, was appointed State Nodal Officer by NCERT, New Delhi. Under his able leadership, the evaluation process covered 8,865 schools, 2,53,720 students, and 30,817 teachers across all 75 districts of the state. The entire evaluation process remained digital and transparent.

Uttar Pradesh leads in digital education

In alignment with the Yogi Government’s vision of ‘Digital UP’, council schools have been equipped with modern digital resources including smart classes, ICT labs, and tablets. So far, 31,600 schools have established smart classes, and 5,568 schools are operating ICT labs. Moreover, 2.61 lakh tablets have been distributed to teachers, ensuring seamless integration of technology into the teaching-learning process. To further strengthen digital learning, an advanced digital studio has also been established at the State Educational Technology Institute, Lucknow. For effective use of these resources, teachers, master trainers, and block education officers have received specialized digital education training.

National innovation campaign and STEM education expansion

To promote science, innovation, and experiential learning, the state has launched several key initiatives under the ‘National Innovation Campaign’. Under this, 88,500 students were taken on exposure visits, and 150 students will be sent on out-of-state visits this year. Additionally, science quizzes and exhibitions have been organized at block and district levels. To give STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education a hands-on approach, the establishment of Science Parks in all 18 divisions of the state has been approved.

Initiatives in environment, sports, and life skills

To nurture environmental awareness among students, the government has approved the formation of ‘Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE’ in schools. A budget of Rs 5,000 for primary and Rs 10,000 for upper primary schools has also been allocated for the procurement of sports materials. These steps reflect a holistic approach toward the overall development of children.

“Uttar Pradesh is making solid strides towards proficiency. Under the leadership of the state government, we are making coordinated efforts in foundational literacy, quality teaching, tech-based learning, experiential science, and life skills. Through the NIPUN Bharat Mission and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, the state is setting new benchmarks of quality and accountability in education, serving as an exemplary model at the national level.”
– Deepak Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Basic Education Department, Uttar Pradesh