HYDERABAD: Nearly 40 per cent of government schools students in 10 districts of Telangana are unable to read and write in the medium of instruction they are taught despite attending classes, revealed a social audit of learning outcomes carried out by Campaign for Learning Outcomes, released on Saturday.
As many as 1,302 children from 5 to 10 Classes participated in the study and of these 533 children failed to read, write and do simple math. And only 525 children could understand simple words and sentences. The study covered Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Vikarabad, Siddipet, Nagarkurnul, Gadwal, Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet and Yadadri districts of Telangana and another four from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
The test was based on Class 3 syllabi. Campaign for Learning Outcomes convenor Venkat Reddy said that if the study had incorporated the class wise learning outcomes the results would have been unimaginable. “In spite of attending schools regularly, still a large number of children are losing their right to learn according to their age-appropriate classes as prescribed by SCERT. Governments must ensure learning guarantee for every child,” he said.
Prof Shanta Sinha former chairperson NCPCR who was also present at the event called it as an “emergency situation”.
“There is an urgent need for removal of the backlog in the existing classes and this is not just an academic problem but one that is amounting to new socio-economic inequality,” she said and added that government needs to step in immediately.
This survey once again reiterates what earlier studies and reports of the government viz., National Assessment Survey, ASER (NGO) and SSA have already highlighted -- that children are not even able to read, write or do simple arithmetic. This situation is prevailing in all classes.
The findings
Of the sample size of 1,302 students, 533 were unable to read, write Telugu, Math and English. And only 525 (roughly less than 50 per cent) were able to perform these activities.
t was found that 489 students could not read or write Telugu alphabet or even recognise names of objects in pictures. 440 students could write words but not read or spell simple words like computer and Madhya Pradesh. The condition of Class 10 students was found to be more shocking with only 86 of 156 students being able to read and write these words. The survey also found that of the total sample only 373 students could read Telugu newspaper.
In mathematical applications too the students fared poorly with 732 which is 56 per cent unable to carry out simple addition or subtraction. They could not even count up to 100 or tell the successor or predecessor numbers. Of 170 Class 10 students, 92 could read Telugu but not perform simple arithmetic calculations.
When it comes to English, it was found that 650 students could neither read nor write the language, 271 could read small sentences but not entire paragraphs.
Suggestions for better learning outcome
Form an independent autonomous body to oversee and monitor the learning outcomes. The education department has largely failed in this aspect.
To clear the backlog of children in Classes 1-10, a year-long extensive programme could be started to teach them in a way that they reach their age appropriate to the class.
Similar findings
The National Achievement Survey 2017 conducted by the Government of India for Classes 3, 5 and 8 and published as ‘Andhra Pradesh State Learning Report’ had revealed similarly dismal learning levels.
In Class 3, on an average, children are able to respond to only 74 per cent in Mathematics, 73 per cent in EVS and 79 per cent in language, questions correctly.
In Class 5, on an average, children are able to respond to only 64 per cent in mathematics, 64 per cent in EVS and 67 per cent in language, questions correctly.
In Class 8, on an average, children are able to respond to only, 58 per cent in Language, 50 per cent in Mathematics, 48 per cent in Science and 49 per cent in Social Science, questions correctly.