Study Finds 71% of Tamil Nadu Teachers Skip Checking Student Work
A new survey has revealed that in 71% of classrooms in Tamil Nadu, teachers do not check written work or provide feedback to improve children's learning. The Teaching Learning Practices Survey (TLPS) 2025, released recently, examined teaching-learning practices in basic literacy and numeracy across nine states.
The survey was conducted between November 2024 and March 2025 in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, covering 21 districts and 1,050 classrooms. In Tamil Nadu, the study focused on Classes I and II in 150 classrooms across Krishnagiri, Villupuram, and Ramanathapuram districts. The findings are based on sampled classrooms and are not representative of the entire state.
The report notes that in 47% of classrooms, teachers relied solely on choral responses to check understanding, rather than individual assessment. It also found that print-rich materials were displayed in 77% of classrooms, well above the national average of 48%. Teachers' planned use of teaching-learning materials in mathematics was 61%, while children's use was 77%.
"Almost 70% of the classrooms either skipped comprehension checks or relied on choral responses rather than individual checks to assess students' understanding. Children were off-task for 25% of class time, and when on-task, spent most time on copying and choral repetition," the report stated.
The study acknowledged Tamil Nadu's progress through the Ennum Ezhuthum Mission in prioritizing basic literacy and numeracy, but recommended sustained focus beyond early grades. It called for broadening foundational learning to include critical thinking, oral expression, independent writing, and problem-solving. It also emphasized regular mentoring for teachers on language and mathematics pedagogy.
