Seventh All India School Education Survey (Seventh AISES): Specific Facilities in Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools

The Seventh All India School Education Survey (7th AISES) was initiated by the National Council of Educational Research and Training with reference date as September 30 2002 with the objective of creating a school database for the country and making the data available in print and magnetic media for educational planning and other purposes. The Department of Educational Surveys and Data Processing (DES and DP), NCERT undertook the task of designing of tools in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The feedback received from various government departments, users, researchers and our past experience led to the development of tools having several data items. Subsequently, guidelines for State Survey Officers (SSOs) were prepared and a training programme for them for conducting the survey was organized. The printing and distribution of tools for collecting information from schools/blocks/districts/states and organizing training of a large number of officials and teachers was a mammoth task. The training was organized at different administrative units for explaining concepts, definitions, collection of data, procedures for manual scrutiny and handling of filled-in tools.  Many states/UTs gave high priority to this survey work and initiated steps for collection of data as per time schedule. However, few states undertook the survey activities quite late due to reasons, which were specific to that state. Further, under-estimation of quantum of work by some data entry agencies resulted in the discontinuation of work half-way. These factors contributed towards delay in designing of the software and processing of data at different State National Informatics Centres. The generation of reports was a learning experience. It involved a good amount of thinking and work within department. The first report for "Provisional Statistics" was generated in December 2004 on the basis of the data collected through a flash sheet attached with some of the tools. The reconciliation of this data with other sources of information involved a good dealt of correspondence with State/UT Governments. The Provisional Statistics was made available to the nation in June 2005.