Vol. 51 No. 1 (2025): Journal of Indian Education
Articles

Quality of Learning in Primary Education: A District-level Comparison of Kerala and West Bengal

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  • Anurupa Mukherjee,
  • Pravat Kumar Kuri
Anurupa Mukherjee
Research Scholar, Department of Economics, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal
Pravat Kumar Kuri
Research Scholar, Department of Economics, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal

Published 2026-07-15

Keywords

  • Primary Education,
  • Learning Achievement,
  • Private School Enrolment,
  • West Bengal,
  • Kerala,
  • ASER
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How to Cite

Mukherjee, A., & Kuri, P. K. (2026). Quality of Learning in Primary Education: A District-level Comparison of Kerala and West Bengal. JOURNAL OF INDIAN EDUCATION, 51(1), p.29-46. https://ejournals.ncert.gov.in/index.php/jie/article/view/5600

Abstract

The quality of learning remains a widely debated issue in the contemporary school education system. Despite significant progress in enrolment due to various policy interventions, the persistent challenge is the decline in learning levels among children across age groups. This paper assesses the learning quality of primary school children using ASER data (2006–2024) for the districts of Kerala and West Bengal. Four and two key learning indicators for the periods 2006–2016 and 2018–2024, respectively, are used to evaluate grade-level learning outcomes. A Learning Achievement Index has been constructed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to provide a clearer picture of learning trends, and inter-district disparities have been examined accordingly. A correlation analysis is also undertaken to identify any significant associations between the index and trends in the private and public-school enrolment.

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