According to officials, the national assessment regulator PARAKH will conduct the first State Education Achievement Survey on November 3rd, covering 11 million students across the country. The survey, which will target school students up to the block level, will be conducted across states to identify areas for improvement in learning. It will serve as a precursor to the annual National Achievement Survey (NAS) conducted at the district level by the Education Ministry.

Officials familiar with the matter told PTI that it will be the first survey conducted by the NCERT's Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH). It is tasked with bringing together school boards from all 50 states and the union territories.

Scheduled for November 3, SEAS (State Education Achievement Survey) 2023 has been designed to enhance the learning standards for students in Classes 3, 6 and 9. Operating at the block level, this survey encompasses a comprehensive range of competencies, spanning the foundational, preparatory, and middle stages of education.

SEAS, according to officials, will be a distinct and baseline assessment, indicating a gradual shift from rote learning to competency-based education. They stated that the adoption of competency-based learning has the potential to foster students' holistic development, and that their efforts are dedicated to nurturing the well-rounded development of future generations. According to officials, this survey will be invaluable in realising this goal.

"At the heart of this endeavour is the conviction that every child is entitled to a well-rounded education." "Our competency-based assessment system aims to assess not only what students know, but also how well they can apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios," said Indrani Bhaduri, the head and CEO of PARAKH.