How did Himachal achieve a high rank on the NAS?, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• NAS 2025 assessed learning outcomes for Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10 across core subjects.
• Himachal jumped 16 ranks from 21st (2021) to top five (2025) among Indian States.
• Reforms under CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu included merging over 1,000 under-enrolled schools.
• Unified school education under a single directorate from pre-primary to Class 12.
• Focus was given to teacher deployment, infrastructure, and cluster-based school management.
• Exposure visits for teachers and students encouraged innovation and motivation.
• Despite NAS gains, the State emphasizes that standardised test performance is not the only goal.

Detailed Insights:

• Himachal’s earlier education model, rooted in post-Independence expansion under Y.S. Parmar, had weakened post-liberalisation due to contractual hiring and declining public trust.
• By merging schools, the State improved student-teacher ratios, reduced redundancy, and utilised infrastructure better.
• Cluster-based models allowed for peer learning, resource sharing, and community participation.
• Teachers and high-performing students received exposure to best practices, both nationally and internationally.
• However, NAS does not measure socio-emotional learning, critical thinking, or equity outcomes, limiting its scope as a holistic education metric.
• Himachal’s real success lies in restoring faith in public education through systemic, inclusive reforms.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Achievement Survey (NAS): A triennial, nationwide learning assessment by the Ministry of Education to gauge academic performance across States.
• Cluster-based School Management: A model where a group of nearby schools share resources and collaborate on training, planning, and pedagogical strategies.
• NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey): A large-scale survey that captures demographic and health indicators, including fertility rates and education access.