The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will carry out a Foundational Learning Study for Class 3 pupils in Delhi during the current academic year, officials have confirmed. The study, organised in partnership with the Delhi State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), aims to measure and strengthen basic reading, writing and numeracy skills at the end of the foundational stage.
NCERT Foundational Learning Study and what it measures
Scheduled tentatively for February–March 2026, the survey will take place in selected sampled schools. SCERT has said the list of participating schools will be shared with institutions in advance so that teachers and school leaders can make necessary preparations. NCERT has also circulated sample assessment tasks in Hindi and English to familiarise both staff and pupils with the format and procedures.
Heads of schools and principals have been asked to ensure Class 3 teachers make use of the sample activities so pupils can practise and build confidence. Schools have been advised to expose children to a variety of practice questions that align with the shared materials, helping to develop familiarity and reinforce basic competencies.
Officials stressed that the FLS is diagnostic rather than punitive. It will not operate as a test that grades or certifies individual pupils, nor will it serve as a rating mechanism for schools. Instead, the survey is designed to produce evidence that can guide classroom practice and policy decisions aimed at strengthening foundational education under the National Education Policy 2020.
NCERT and SCERT said the data collected will be used to identify common gaps in learning, support targeted interventions and inform teacher development. By focusing on early literacy and numeracy, the study seeks to ensure pupils leave the foundational stage equipped with the skills needed for later learning.
Preparation for the exercise emphasises collaboration. SCERT called on school leaders to allocate time for practice, to review the sample tasks with staff and to integrate suggested activities into lessons where appropriate. The advisory also noted that parental awareness of the study and its diagnostic purpose can help reduce anxiety and encourage supportive at-home practice.
The move comes amid broader curriculum updates from NCERT, which recently introduced the Pythagoras theorem referenced as Baudhāyana–Pythagoras in Class 8 textbooks. Education authorities say such revisions and diagnostic initiatives are part of a wider effort to align classroom teaching with national priorities.
While the FLS will be limited to sampled schools in the initial round, NCERT indicated the findings could influence future assessments and policy planning at both state and national levels. Educators and policymakers will review outcomes to decide whether further scaling or refinement is needed.
As the scheduled window approaches, school leaders in Delhi are expected to receive the final list of participating schools and further logistical guidance. NCERT and SCERT have reiterated their commitment to ensuring the exercise supports teaching and learning without adding examination pressure on young children.
Key Takeaways:
- NCERT will conduct the Foundational Learning Study for Grade 3 in Delhi during February–March 2026 to assess basic reading, writing and numeracy.
- The exercise is a diagnostic survey, not an examination, and will not grade students or rate schools.
- Sample assessment tasks in Hindi and English have been issued to help teachers and pupils prepare.
- Findings will inform classroom practice and policy under the National Education Policy 2020.
