Jangaon Shines in National School Education Survey: What Other Districts Can Learn

Jangaon district in Telangana has caught national attention by performing exceptionally well in the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021. This large-scale assessment, conducted by the Ministry of Education, tested students’ learning outcomes in core subjects across government and private schools in the country. Jangaon stood out with high scores across subjects like Mathematics, Environmental Studies,

I felt this topic was worth writing about because in a time when many parts of India are struggling with learning losses and gaps in quality education, Jangaon is showing us a hopeful example. The district’s success is not by chance—it reflects the commitment of local education officials, teachers, and the community. It also tells us that even with limited resources, the right strategies can help schools improve student learning outcomes. With so much focus on education reforms at both national and state levels, stories like Jangaon’s are crucial to understand what’s working and how these practices can be replicated in other districts.

What Is the National Achievement Survey (NAS)?

The NAS is a national-level assessment conducted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It aims to measure how well students are learning in subjects like Language, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, and Science. The survey covers students in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, and includes both government and private schools.

The 2021 edition of the survey saw participation from over 1.8 lakh schools and more than 34 lakh students across all states and union territories. The survey is not meant to judge individual students but to help policymakers and educators understand gaps in the school system and improve teaching methods.

Why Jangaon’s Performance Stands Out

Jangaon district showed outstanding performance in the NAS 2021 results. Here are a few key highlights:

The district secured the top position in Telangana in terms of learning outcomes
Students performed above the national average in most subjects, especially in Mathematics and Language
Class 3 and Class 5 students from government schools outperformed peers from many private schools in the same region
The district’s overall performance placed it among the top-performing districts in the country

What makes this result more impressive is that Jangaon is not a metro or a major city district. It is largely rural, with a mix of government and aided schools catering to a diverse student base. The success highlights how strong planning, monitoring, and training can transform learning outcomes even in non-urban areas.

Key Factors Behind the Success

The credit for Jangaon’s performance goes to multiple efforts carried out at the district level. Some of the strategies include:

Regular teacher training programmes focusing on child-centric pedagogy
Use of digital tools and tech-based learning in classrooms
Strong school leadership by headmasters and district education officials
Monthly monitoring of student progress through baseline and formative assessments
Active community involvement through School Management Committees (SMCs)

Teachers in the district were not just trained once—they were given continuous academic support and mentoring. Instead of focusing only on syllabus completion, schools worked to improve conceptual understanding and practical skills.

What Can Other Districts Learn from Jangaon?

Jangaon’s journey is a lesson in how focused, ground-level interventions can bring visible change. Here are some learnings:

Empowering teachers through regular training leads to better classroom delivery
Involving parents and the local community improves student attendance and accountability
Monitoring student learning regularly helps schools respond quickly to academic gaps
Decentralised planning, where school heads and cluster resource persons have ownership, works better than top-down orders

It’s important to note that these changes didn’t happen overnight. It took several years of consistent work, leadership from education officers, and cooperation from schools and families.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.