ASSAM HDR 2014: 86  per cent  private school students take private tuition compared to 30 per cent in government schools 

Parents’ perception of better school  infrastructure, quality teaching, regularity of classes, teacher attendance, and care taken of the students by private schools have  resulted in a growing demand for admission into private schools in Assam. However, more students of private schools take help of private tuition as compared to students in government schools, according to the Assam Human Development Report, 2014.

The report also reveals that there exists a wide rural-urban disparity as 41.34 per cent students go to private school in urban areas in comparison to 11.99 per cent in rural areas. Besides, the annual per capita expenditure in private schools in urban areas is Rs. 17680 as compared to Rs. 9111 in rural areas. For the government schools, it is Rs. 5235 in urban areas and Rs. 2134 in rural areas.

“The ASER 2013 brings out an interesting observation that, while students of both government and private school take help of private tuition, in rural Assam the proportion of student (12.2 per cent) going for tuition remain constant in case of government school students in class I-V during 2010 to 2013, but increased from 28 per cent in 2010 to 30.9 per cent in 2013 in case of private school students”- the report reveals.

“On the other hand the proportion of students studying in class VI- VIII, having support of paid tuition (22.3 per cent), reduced to 18 per cent, while that of their counterparts studying in private schools, increased by more than 10 percent, from 28.8 to 38.9 per cent. This could be because of the fact that the students, who study in private schools, mostly belong to the affluent class, who is ready to spend some more on private tutoring for better results. However, with the introduction of new textbooks of higher standards, several people in rural areas reported that there were not many people in the locality, who can teach their wards. The growing divide comes out very clearly when we compare students without any tuition in government school and private schools. When more than 70 per cent fall into this category, it is just 14 per cent in case of later”- states AHDR 2014.

The HDR Assam, 2014 has also revealed that 32.37 per cent parents send their children to private school due to “good Infrastructure”, 25.05 per cent due to “students care”, and 20.59 per cent send due to “quality teachers”.

The district-wise data has shown that in Dima Hasao district a huge 58.82 per cent students prefer private schools because of “good infrastructure”. The percentage of choosing private schools due to “quality teachers” is the highest in Marigaon district which is 76.47 per cent.  The district wise break-up of giving preference to private schools on the ground of “Students care” is the highest in Barpeta district which is 53.76 per cent.

The HDR survey has also revealed that 5.7 per cent students of the state face discrimination at schools by race, religion, caste and gender.  It has revealed that 27.7 per cent students face punishment for their absence at schools, and another 26.9 per cent are punished for homework.  However, 49 per cent students also are praised for their performances at school.

The Assam HDR Survey, 2013 covered 39,998 households covering 187,511 individuals in 27 districts, 97 Blocks, 95 urban centres, 1972 villages of the state.

nezine.com Editorial Bureau