The national-level Annual Standard of Education Report-2013, released by Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in New Delhi on Thursday, has brought to the fore the poor state of primary education in Odisha.
The report, prepared by Pratham, an NGO, has revealed that the percentage of Class III students unable to work out a common subtraction increased alarmingly from 52 per cent in 2009 to 76 per cent in 2013.
Contrary to the claims of the State Government that it has taken all possible measures to increase the standard of primary education by appointing nearly 60,000 new teachers and increasing their salaries, the outcome has been absolutely dismal and shocking.
Though the report has said that the rate of admission of children in the 6-14 age group in primary schools increased in the State in the last five years, the quality of education has gone down drastically.
leave alone Class-III students, even 75 per cent students of Class-VIII are not able to work out common subtraction. Besides, 89 per cent students of Class-V are unable to work out common division.
The inability of the students in working out common mathematical solutions has exposed the lack of sincerity of the teachers, the report added.
The report has also stated that about 13 per cent of students of Class-III are unable to identify vernacular letters. Though 81 per cent of the students are able to identify the letters, they are unable to identify words. The most disturbing finding of the survey is that about 84 per cent of the students of Class-VIII are unable to read the books of Class-I, the report said.
According to the survey, about 96 per cent of the students in the 6-14 age group have taken admission in the schools while 23 per cent of students in 15-16 age group have left the schools midway in the last five years.
The poor quality of education in Government schools has forced nearly 46 per cent of students to take private tuitions. Referring to the existing infrastructure facilities in the primary schools, the report said that about 71 per cent of schools have no playgrounds, 60 per cent have no boundary walls, 10 per cent have no drinking water facility, 27 per cent have no usable toilets and 34 per cent have no separate toilets for girls.
The report has also revealed that contrary to lack of space for mid-day meals in 12 per cent of the primary schools, children of about 98 per cent of schools are presently being provided with midday meals.