NCERT to conduct foundational learning study for Class 3 students in Delhi

The National Council of Educational Research and Training has decided to carry out a Foundational Learning Study for Class 3 students in Delhi during the current academic year, focusing on early literacy and numeracy outcomes.

The study aims to assess how effectively students are acquiring basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills by the end of the foundational stage.

The Delhi State Council of Educational Research and Training said the assessment is tentatively scheduled for February to March 2026 and will be conducted in a selected sample of schools across the capital. The list of participating schools will be shared in advance.

Designed as a system-level exercise, the Foundational Learning Study will evaluate students’ ability to read with comprehension, communicate through writing, and apply foundational numeracy skills expected at the Class 3 level.

Officials said the results will help identify learning gaps at an early stage and support targeted classroom interventions.

As part of the preparation, NCERT has shared sample assessment tasks in Hindi and English with schools to help teachers and students become familiar with the format and type of activities.

School heads have been directed to ensure that Class 3 teachers engage students in practicing these tasks and use similar exercises to strengthen basic skills.

NCERT has emphasized that the exercise is not an examination and will not involve grading, ranking, or certification of individual students.

It will also not be used to assess or rate schools. Instead, the findings are intended to inform policy decisions and improve classroom practices in line with the National Education Policy 2020.

Education officials said cooperation from schools will be essential for the smooth conduct of the study and for achieving its objective of strengthening foundational learning.

NCERT and SCERT believe the initiative will help build a stronger academic base by reinforcing early literacy and numeracy skills that are critical for long-term learning outcomes.