Rajasthan's Oral Reading Fluency Campaign Faces Assessment Delays for 4.29 Lakh Students
The Rajasthan education department has extended the deadline for completing the endline survey of its statewide oral reading fluency (ORF) campaign to January 29, as officials revealed on Wednesday that approximately 4.29 lakh students still await evaluation. This assessment, crucial for measuring Hindi reading proficiency among students in classes 3 to 8 across all government schools, was originally scheduled for completion by January 23.
Statewide Assessment Progress and Challenges
Across Rajasthan, the campaign aims to assess over 39.16 lakh students, but logistical hurdles have slowed progress. In a directive issued on Tuesday, the education department instructed all field officers to intensify monitoring through the ORF monitoring report available on the Shala Darpan portal. The order emphasizes ensuring 100% completion of assessments and warns of potential action against schools and teachers failing to comply.
The directive states clearly: "All field officers are directed to conduct intensive monitoring through the ORF monitoring report available on the Shala Darpan portal and ensure 100% completion of the assessment by taking necessary action against schools and teachers who did not conduct the assessment." It further cautions that if assessments remain incomplete by the new deadline, responsibility will fall squarely on headmasters or elementary education officers.
Districts Lagging Behind in Evaluations
Five districts have emerged as the slowest in completing the assessments, with significant numbers of students still pending evaluation:
- Banswara: 34,214 students pending
- Dungarpur: 27,020 students pending
- Barmer: 25,716 students pending
- Jaipur: 21,885 students pending
- Jodhpur: 20,876 students pending
Teacher Perspectives on Assessment Delays
Educators cite multiple factors contributing to the delays. A principal from a government secondary school in Jaipur, speaking anonymously, explained: "During the assessment days, my school was closed for a day due to a recruitment exam, and then we were preparing for the mega PTM held on Jan 23. Teaching is also underway to complete the syllabus before the board and final exams, which are being held early this year. Due to all this, the assessment could not be completed."
Teachers across the state report similar challenges, including recruitment exams being conducted in school premises and various non-academic administrative duties that have diverted attention from the assessment process. These competing priorities have created a perfect storm of delays in a campaign designed to bolster foundational literacy skills among young learners.
Campaign Objectives and Monitoring Mechanisms
The oral reading fluency campaign represents a significant initiative by the Rajasthan government to improve Hindi reading proficiency among elementary and middle school students. By focusing on classes 3 through 8, the program targets critical developmental stages where reading fluency forms the foundation for academic success across subjects.
The education department's reliance on the Shala Darpan portal for monitoring reflects a digital approach to educational administration, allowing for real-time tracking of assessment progress across thousands of schools. This technological infrastructure supports the department's goal of comprehensive evaluation, though current delays highlight the challenges of implementing large-scale educational assessments amidst competing school activities.
As the January 29 deadline approaches, education officials remain focused on completing the assessment cycle to gather crucial data about student reading levels. The results will likely inform future literacy initiatives and resource allocation across Rajasthan's government school system.
