More than 60 percent teenagers from rural parts of Haryana are struggling with basic arithmetic skills, even after more than nine years at school.
Also, a large number of children in the state have moved into higher grades without having learnt the basic reading skills.
This sorry state of education in Haryana was revealed in the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER rural) 2018, released on Tuesday. The performance of private schools was found to be much better than government schools during the survey.
The report, while throwing light on poor arithmetic skills of students, revealed that only 34.7 percent students in the age group 8-10 could do division while nearly 37 percent in the same age group could not do subtraction. Nearly 40 percent students in the age group 11-13 could not do division while over 35 percent in the age group 14-16, could not do basic division.
Only 36.2 percent youth aged 14-16, who can do subtraction could calculate time and 13.1 percent such children could calculate discount, the ASER 2018 report stated.
The trends over the years suggested that 31.6 percent students in class III in government schools can do at least subtraction and the percentage was 27.7 in 2016, 24 in 2014 and 20 in 2012.
In rural private schools, 70.7 percent students in class III were able to do atleast subtraction in 2018, although the percentage was lower than that of 73.7 percent recorded in 2016.
Similarly, only 34.4 students in class V (2018) and 49.1 percent in class VIII in government schools could do division. The percentage stood at 64.5 in class V and 76.8 in class VIII in private schools in the state, the ASER report stated.
Apparently, the overall arithmetic skills among Haryana students is highly disappointing as per the ASER survey and should worry the policymakers in the state that boasts of improving the standard and quality of school education.
Not only the basic mathematics, the report also revealed the huge deficit in basic reading capabilities of students in Haryana.
In government schools, only 33.5 percent students of class III could read the class II level text in 2018. In 2016, the percentage of such students stood at 25.1. The trend was better in private schools with 56.1 students of class III able to read class II level text.
What’s worse, more than 40 percent students of class V and over 26 percent in class VIII in government schools could not read class II level text.
Among districts, students in Nuh recorded worst learning levels. Only 24.1 percent of students from class III to V could read class II level text and only 38.8 could do atleast subtraction. In class VI to VIII, only 36.1 percent could do division while 52 percent could read class II level text.
The ASER report revealed that the state registered enrolment of 55.3 percent children (age 6-14) in private schools while the government schools registered 42.6 percent enrolment. The proportion of ‘out-of-school’ girls (15-16 years) stood at 6.8 percent.
Apart from this, a large number of schools were found to be not meeting the RTE norms in Haryana. 11.6 percent schools in Haryana have no facility for drinking water and 4.8 percent schools have no separate provision for girls’ toilet. 81.7 percent schools do not have computer available for children while there was no library in 16 percent schools.
613 schools including 221 upper primary (class I-VII/VIII) and 392 primary (class I-IV/V) were visited in Haryana for the ASER 2018 survey.
Notably, the previous ASER 2017 had also pointed out poor reading and weak arithmetic skills in the students of Haryana.