The RTE Act guarantees right to school enrolment. But learning is an almost impossible goal for many of our children. That is what we understand from the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) of 2012 prepared by Pradham Education Foundation based on a survey across the country. The survey examines learning outcomes in children in the rural areas in the age-group 6-14 years by assessing their ability in reading and arithmetic using simple tests.
Learning levels have been falling over the years and 2012 witnessed an all time low record. Nearly half the 6-7 year olds in the first standard could not read even one letter in any language. Nearly 60% could not read any English alphabet. Children in class 5 who could read a class II text declined from 53.7% in 2010 to 46.8% in 2012.
In 2010 seven out of ten children could solve a two-digit subtraction problem with borrowing. But in 2012 only five out of ten could do so. It is an irony that 2012 was the Year of Mathematics.
Governments spend huge amount of money on education. Yet enrolment in private schools rose from 18.7% in 2006 to 28.3-% in 2012, and it is estimated to reach 50% in the next ten years. The lag between even modest private schools and state- run schools in the quality of teaching is evident. So anxious parents prefer private schools for their children even if it is a financial burden.
State-run schools generally are notorious for teacher-apathy and low teacher proficiency. Teacher accountability is a rarity in these schools. Many teachers are reluctant to prepare and teach. Often older children are asked to teach younger children in multi-grade classes. There is nobody to monitor whether children learn anything or not. Children are victimised if parents complain.
ON THE WHOLE THE SCENARIO OF EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY IS IN A STATE OF
DISARRAY.
Learning levels have been falling over the years and 2012 witnessed an all time low record. Nearly half the 6-7 year olds in the first standard could not read even one letter in any language. Nearly 60% could not read any English alphabet. Children in class 5 who could read a class II text declined from 53.7% in 2010 to 46.8% in 2012.
In 2010 seven out of ten children could solve a two-digit subtraction problem with borrowing. But in 2012 only five out of ten could do so. It is an irony that 2012 was the Year of Mathematics.
Governments spend huge amount of money on education. Yet enrolment in private schools rose from 18.7% in 2006 to 28.3-% in 2012, and it is estimated to reach 50% in the next ten years. The lag between even modest private schools and state- run schools in the quality of teaching is evident. So anxious parents prefer private schools for their children even if it is a financial burden.
State-run schools generally are notorious for teacher-apathy and low teacher proficiency. Teacher accountability is a rarity in these schools. Many teachers are reluctant to prepare and teach. Often older children are asked to teach younger children in multi-grade classes. There is nobody to monitor whether children learn anything or not. Children are victimised if parents complain.
ON THE WHOLE THE SCENARIO OF EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY IS IN A STATE OF
DISARRAY.
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