Early Grade Learning Competency of Young Children

The Early Grade Reading Assessment is an oral student assessment designed to measure the most basic foundation skills for early grade learning. This research was conducted to find out the early grade learning competency of young children (Grade 1, 2 and 3) of Myagdi and Baglung District. This study was conducted on November-December of 2019. Question sets were developed for grades (1-3) and all tests; reading comprehension, reading fluency and mathematical competency. 573 students of Grade 1, 2 and 3 from 16 schools were participated in EGRA. The average reading comprehension was lower than passed benchmarked (35 out of 100) in all levels of students. Reading fluency was around 15 correct words per minute and mathematical competency was also below the pass benchmarked. However, it was notable that, girls had higher score in all three testes- reading comprehension, reading fluency and mathematical competency in all three grades- Grade 1, 2 and 3. Moreover, this study found that mathematical competency of Grade 1 students was higher than that of Grade 2 students.