ASER 2022: Only 35.3 percent of standard VIII students can do subtraction and 27.8 per cent can do division in rural Assam

Assam Government has been implementing Gunotsav, a Gujarat model for “assessment of learning outcomes of children for identifying learning gaps and subsequently designing remedial measures” since 2017.

The latest Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)(Rural), 2022,however, brings to light that the percentage of children in standard III in government schools in Assam, who can read standard II level texts declined below 2012 level. It came down from 10.4 in 2012 to 10.1 in 2022. During 2018 it was 14.4.

“Among the children in Standard III, 7.8 percent even cannot recognize 1-9; 35 percent can recognize numbers up to 90 but cannot recognize numbers beyond 99 and higher; 32.8 percent can recognize numbers up to 99 but cannot do subtraction; 21.1 percent can do subtraction but cannot do division; and 3.3 percent can do division,” states the ASER report published on January 18, 2023.

In Gunostav, external assessment is done by Chief Minister, Education Minister, Ministers of other Departments, government officials, faculty of universities and colleges for “impartial evaluation” and “motivation and encouragement.” The ASER data shows improvement in school facilities such as separate toilet for girls, electricity connection, library, drinking water etc. and enrolment.

The pupil teacher ratio in rural Assam, on the other hand, has worsened from 33.6 in 2010, to 49.1 in 2022.

The survey also identified huge gender gap in learning ability between 2018 and 2022. According to the report, percentage boys who can do division in standard V, came down from 19.6 during 2018 to 16.1 during 2022. In case of girls the percentage came down from 15.9 to 14.34 during this period.

In standard VIII, percentage of boys who can do division was 31.8 during 2018, which came down to 30.0 during 2022. In case of girls the same was 30.7 during 2018 and 26.2 during 2022.

In rural Assam, only 35.3 percent of standard VIII students can do subtraction and only 27.8 per cent can do division.

Only 15.8 per cent of Standard II students in government schools can do at least subtraction, a drastic fall from 23.4 during 2018.

ASER statistics highlight that children in standard V, who can read Standard II level text too, has drastically come down from 33.5 during 2018 to 29.2 during 2022. Percentage of children in standard V, who can do division, came down from 14.4 to 10.1.

Percentage of children in standard VIII, who can do division came down from 28.1 during 2018 to 21.7 during 2022.

However, there is an increase in the category of children in class VIII, who can read standard II level textbooks have increased from 58.1 to 63.6 between 2018 and 2022.

2.8 percent students of standard VII, cannot even read letters, 4.4 percent cannot read capital letters, 17.9 percent cannot read small letters, 24.3 percent cannot read simple words and 50.6 percent cannot read easy sentences, according to the report.

Percentage of schools where midday meal was served on the day of ASER survey team visited was 66.3. The Survey found 8.5 percent schools do not have drinking water facility. 13.2 percent schools have drinking water facility but no water.

12.8 school do not have separate toilet for girls, 7.9 schools separate provision of toilets for girls but locked, 9.0 per cent schools have toilets for girls but not usable.

The Report also states that 27.4 percent schools in rural Assam do not have schools, 91.4 percent schools do not have computer for children and only in 1.6 per cent schools, computers were being used by children on the day of ASER survey team visit.

According to the Report, 71.9 percent students are enrolled in government schools during 2022, an increase from 71.7 during 2018.

“ASER 2022 is the first field-based 'basic' nationwide ASER after a gap of 4 years. It comes at a time when children are back in school after an extended period of school closure. Evidence on the status of children's schooling and foundational learning will help us understand how best to support them going forward, and ASER 2022 attempts to address this urgent need, ” adds the report.

The survey covered 616 districts, 3,74,554 households, 19,060 villages, 6,99,507 children and involved 27,536 volunteers across the country. In Assam, it covered 740 schools in 26 districts.

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Source: http://www.asercentre.org/survey/p/418.html

NEZINE Bureau