DefinePK

Abstract

The Literacy and Numeracy Drive (LND) has been implemented in various educational contexts to enhance foundational skills among primary grade students. The LND's focus on testing can lead to a narrow curriculum that prioritizes test preparation over comprehensive learning. It develops ability in students to read and write and enable them to use the numbers and solve the real life mathematical problems. It is implemented in Punjab public school to assess students’ academic performance. The aim of the present study is to conduct the SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity and threat) analysis of literacy and numeracy drive at primary school level in tehsil Saddar Faisalabad. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique to identify strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that is helpful for policy makers and education managers for decision making. The nature of present study was quantitative and descriptive. According to the School Information System (SIS) there are total 109 primary schools in tehsil Saddar Faisalabad. Among these total schools 40 primary schools were selected conveniently. The population of the study was consisted on 179 primary school teachers of tehsil Saddar Faisalabad by using convenient sampling technique. The sample size was 129 primary school teachers determined by using online available software through www.idsurvey.com/en/sample¬-size-calculator/#ssc with 95% confidence level and 5% confidence interval. Research tool was questionnaire. Data were analysed by using software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). It was found that improving “Division-solving skills” ranked 1st with the highest mean of 4.23, indicating strong agreement on its effectiveness. “Multiplication-solving skills” ranked 2nd with mean of 4.19 and “Words Identification with correct spelling” ranked 3rd with mean of 4.17. It was identified that many weaknesses such as “Intense focus on Eng, Urdu, Math while neglect others” ranked 1st with the highest mean of 4.04, “Privacy concern” ranked 2nd with mean of 4.03 and “Inconsistency in scoring” ranked 3rd with mean of 3.99 were the deficiencies in literacy and numeracy drive.  On the other hand LND presents valuable opportunities for improving education such as “Educational officers can improve the educational assessment” ranked 1st with the highest mean of 4.10, “Students learn with their own pace” ranked 2nd with  mean of 4.06 and “Educational stakeholders can focus on the integration of tabs”  ranked 3rd with the mean of 4.03. On the bases of result it was also identified various threats such as “Correlated negative reinforcement and abuse” ranked 1st with highest mean of 4.00, “Biasness” ranked 2nd with mean of 3.95 and “Teachers may resist new assessment method” ranked 3rd with mean of 3.94. It was suggested that LND should be aligned more closely with the curriculum to ensure relevance and effectiveness. Teachers should receive comprehensive training on using LND tools and adapting to new teaching methods to enhance their teaching performance. Parents should be encouraged to actively participate in their children's education and support the use of LND for learning at home.