Tamil Nadu to Assess Reading, Arithmetic Skills in 14,000 Govt Primary Schools This February

The Tamil Nadu School Education Department is planning to carry out competency assessments in more than 14, 000 government primary schools in the third week of February 2026.

Per a memo from the director of elementary education, student basic competencies in Tamil and English reading skills and in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division were tested in 4, 552 schools during the last academic year.

The School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi was invited through a social media post to have a look at the T Pudhur Panchayat Union Primary School in Anekollu, Krishnagiri gone viral by headmistress K Valarmathi to the school students learning level assessment in her post on November 4, 2024.

Following this, headmasters and teachers from 4,552 primary schools sought inspections by district education officers (elementary), and the department gave these schools 100 days to prepare students, with the deadline ending in April 2025.

After the 100-day period, the school education secretary asked schools to invite district-level officials, including the collector and education officers, along with local representatives such as panchayat union presidents, school management committee members and PTA members, to assess students’ reading and arithmetic skills.

Continuing the initiative this year, the circular stated that more than 14,000 government primary schools have expressed willingness to participate.

However, unlike last year, the circular does not mention the involvement of collectors or elected representatives in the assessment process. Instead, the assessments will be carried out by block resource teacher educators (BRTEs), block educational officers and district educational officers.

The officials have been asked to check a minimum of five students from each class during the assessment which will be carried out using the tools prepared by SCERT. Assessment for classes 1-3 will be held on February 18, and for classes 4-5 on February 20.