Dimapur, November 12 (MExN): The annual national primary education survey conducted in Phek district of Nagaland by Annual Survey Education Report (ASER), a NGO based in Delhi working on remedial primary education in rural India, has reaffirmed the dismal state of affairs in the State’s Education sector. ASER conducted survey in 28 villages located in different areas of Phek district and visited 30 government schools. Some schools were not part of targeted survey but ASER has included them to get a wider perspective.
The survey shows that, out of the 30 schools visited, only 2 schools can be rated as “good,” 15 schools as “fair” and the rest, “deplorable.” To rate the schools, the following criteria were taken into account- building, playground, environment, infrastructure, library (whether the school gets any magazine, newspaper, etc) community participation and students. ’
The survey also found that, with the exception of dropouts, 99% of children between the ages of 6 to 16 are school-going. Students reading and arithmetic skills were tested along with some bonus questions. 62% of Class 4 students didn’t know how to read simple sentences in the form of story and 87% didn’t know arithmetic divisions. And while 47% of Class 5 students couldn’t read a story correctly, 70% couldn’t do arithmetic divisions. The survey also found that students in towns fared better than those in the villages, especially in the bonus arithmetic questions where the response was almost nil in villages. What students of Class 6 hardly managed in the villages, students of Class 3 in the towns manages quite well. It also observed that students’ in private school fared better than those studying in government schools. The survey also included parents’ literacy. The highest literacy rate of 91% was found among parents in Thipizu.
According to the survey, the common chronic problem that has been identified in all the schools is, “the shortages of teacher” especially Hindi teachers. The Right to Education norms requires every classroom to have least one teacher. In Therutsese village, there were only 2 teachers manning seven classes (classes A to 5). In some school, it was observed that teachers were absent for almost 3 years! The pleas of the students often go unheeded by authorities.
The village communities in order to mitigate this problem has been trying to make all ends meet sponsoring private tutors and subject teachers to salvage students’ career but in places where no such effort exist, students bear the brunt, the survey found.
With communitisation of Education, the participation of communities has become pivotal towards efficient administration and where such healthy participation exists, schools fare better. The survey found that in places where communitisation efforts were good, the schools were running well. However, in places where participation of the community was less, the condition of schools was dismal. Some Village Education Committee heads hardly visit the school and resided mostly in towns, the survey found. Also under the SSA programme, every school is entitled to mandatory yearly grants of Rs. 15,000 for lower primary school and Rs.22, 000 for upper primary with lower primary attached (excluding TLM & midday meal funds) under maintenance and development grants. But the discrepancies found in its implementation are a matter of serious concern, the report stated.
ASER has concluded that “many schools are reeling under pathetic condition with no electricity connection; proper desk and benches; worn out building and located in places not conducive to learning that just at the sight. The need of the hour now is redeployment of teachers from the excess areas to the shortage areas or appoint new one. But to let the schools thrive without teachers would not only be unfair but cruel. Those who are unwilling to go to their areas of posting should gracefully retire as there are enough qualified youth to take up the same as this profession is not only to earn livelihood but a yeoman service to render.”
For further information & picture excerpt or feedbacks, log on to chakhesang.united@group.facebook.com
The survey shows that, out of the 30 schools visited, only 2 schools can be rated as “good,” 15 schools as “fair” and the rest, “deplorable.” To rate the schools, the following criteria were taken into account- building, playground, environment, infrastructure, library (whether the school gets any magazine, newspaper, etc) community participation and students. ’
The survey also found that, with the exception of dropouts, 99% of children between the ages of 6 to 16 are school-going. Students reading and arithmetic skills were tested along with some bonus questions. 62% of Class 4 students didn’t know how to read simple sentences in the form of story and 87% didn’t know arithmetic divisions. And while 47% of Class 5 students couldn’t read a story correctly, 70% couldn’t do arithmetic divisions. The survey also found that students in towns fared better than those in the villages, especially in the bonus arithmetic questions where the response was almost nil in villages. What students of Class 6 hardly managed in the villages, students of Class 3 in the towns manages quite well. It also observed that students’ in private school fared better than those studying in government schools. The survey also included parents’ literacy. The highest literacy rate of 91% was found among parents in Thipizu.
According to the survey, the common chronic problem that has been identified in all the schools is, “the shortages of teacher” especially Hindi teachers. The Right to Education norms requires every classroom to have least one teacher. In Therutsese village, there were only 2 teachers manning seven classes (classes A to 5). In some school, it was observed that teachers were absent for almost 3 years! The pleas of the students often go unheeded by authorities.
The village communities in order to mitigate this problem has been trying to make all ends meet sponsoring private tutors and subject teachers to salvage students’ career but in places where no such effort exist, students bear the brunt, the survey found.
With communitisation of Education, the participation of communities has become pivotal towards efficient administration and where such healthy participation exists, schools fare better. The survey found that in places where communitisation efforts were good, the schools were running well. However, in places where participation of the community was less, the condition of schools was dismal. Some Village Education Committee heads hardly visit the school and resided mostly in towns, the survey found. Also under the SSA programme, every school is entitled to mandatory yearly grants of Rs. 15,000 for lower primary school and Rs.22, 000 for upper primary with lower primary attached (excluding TLM & midday meal funds) under maintenance and development grants. But the discrepancies found in its implementation are a matter of serious concern, the report stated.
ASER has concluded that “many schools are reeling under pathetic condition with no electricity connection; proper desk and benches; worn out building and located in places not conducive to learning that just at the sight. The need of the hour now is redeployment of teachers from the excess areas to the shortage areas or appoint new one. But to let the schools thrive without teachers would not only be unfair but cruel. Those who are unwilling to go to their areas of posting should gracefully retire as there are enough qualified youth to take up the same as this profession is not only to earn livelihood but a yeoman service to render.”
For further information & picture excerpt or feedbacks, log on to chakhesang.united@group.facebook.com
