Rajasthan government to begin second phase of statewide reading assessment from January 19

Jaipur The Rajasthan education department will launch the second phase of its Oral Reading Fluency programme from January 19 to January 23, as part of a broader effort to raise foundational reading skills among government school students.

The move follows a baseline reading survey conducted in April 2025 that assessed Hindi reading proficiency of approximately 35 lakh students in classes three to eight. The survey used artificial intelligence tools through the Shala Darpan Teacher App to evaluate fluency, pronunciation and comprehension. Students were placed in categories from C1 to C4 based on their performance.

On the basis of baseline results, the department rolled out a 100-day reading remediation programme titled Prakhar 2.0 to strengthen reading outcomes. Activities under this phase were integrated into the first two periods of the school day to support regular practice. Officials said the focus has been on improving speed, accurate pronunciation, expression and overall comprehension during reading.

For the upcoming endline assessment, teachers have been instructed to ensure that only students present on the scheduled day are tested, and that recordings reflect the voice of the student listed in the app. A departmental order issued on January 9 made it clear that any voices swapped or external assistance during evaluation will render results invalid. Teachers are also barred from correcting or guiding students during the reading tests.

A senior official said the campaign aims to establish strong reading foundations from the early grades so students can progress through the education system with confidence and improved literacy.

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