The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) ‘Rural’-2018 released on Tuesday in New Delhi presented a disappointing picture of the State in the learning levels criteria. The report based on the findings of rural areas suggested that merely 18.8 per cent of Jharkhand’s rural kids studying in class 3 can read class 2 level text, which is comparatively much lower than the adjoining States – Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
The consolidated data states that in Andhra Pradesh 22.4 per cent rural kids are competent enough to read standard 2 level text while in Bihar 23.5 per cent children in rural belts can read class 2 level text. Similarly, in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, 23.5 per cent, 29.8 per cent, 38.7 per cent, 28.1 per cent and 40.0 per cent rural kids respectively can read Standard 2 level text.
Similarly, only 34.4 per cent of kids studying in class 5 in the State can read standard 2 level text, while in Andhra Pradesh 59.7 percent children are able to read the junior level texts. The status of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal is also much satisfactory in comparison to Jharkhand. In Bihar, 41.3 per cent, Chhattisgarh 59.5 per cent, Odisha 58.4 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 52 per cent and West Bengal 50.7 per cent children are able to read lower classes text.
In addition, ASER (Rural – India) comparative report suggested that in Andhra Pradesh (78.2 per cent), Bihar (71.2 per cent), Chhattisgarh (78.7 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh 73.7 per cent rural kids of class 8 are proficient in reading class 2 level text whereas in Jharkhand 66.4 per cent children enrolled in class 8 can read class 2 level text.
The condition of Jharkhand is only better than West Bengal, where 61.8 per cent kids of class 8 can read the junior level texts.
Further, in accordance to the report – covering ‘Physical Education and Sports Facilities’ criteria, there is a massive dearth of playgrounds in Jharkhand. Just, 39.1 per cent schools in Jharkhand have playgrounds. In contrary, 61.9 per cent schools in Andhra Pradesh and 61.0 per cent schools in Bihar have playgrounds whereas in Chhattisgarh (68.8 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (71.3 per cent), West Bengal (52.8 per cent) schools have playgrounds.
However, according to the report, Jharkhand is at par with all its bordering States in school facilities category which primarily includes drinking water availability, kitchen shed for cooking mid-day meal, availability of toilets and its use and availability of girls’ toilet and its use.
In Jharkhand drinking water is available in 82.6 per cent schools while 88.7 per cent schools here have kitchen shed for cooking mid-day meal, as per the latest findings.
Taking a giant leap, from 2010 till date, a massive improvement has been indicated in the report as 72.5 per cent schools of Jharkhand have toilets for girls. In 2010, merely 20.9 per cent schools had the facility of girls’ toilets in Jharkhand. Overall, 74.9 per cent schools have toilets in Jharkhand.
Considering the All India level data, no major change is seen in students’ and teachers’ attendance.
An Average teacher attendance has remained around 85 per cent and average student attendance at around 72 per cent for the past several years in both primary and upper primary schools.
However, few states exhibit very different patterns of attendance. States with student attendance of 90 per cent or more in primary schools in 2018 were Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Those with teacher attendance of 90 per cent or more in 2018 were Jharkhand, Odisha and two southern states-- Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Notably, ASER provides data for rural children in the age-group 3 to 16 years, with respect to their abilities to lead productive lives as adults. In 2018, over 596 districts in rural India and a total of 3,54, 944 households including 5, 46,527 children in the age group 3 to 16 were surveyed.