1,236 schools record below 30 pc results
How does the state justify spending crores on revamping teaching methods when the number of poorly faring schools keep increasing every year?
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, June 05, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009060520090605033823821eb57d232)
While the state government claims to have been spending crores over quality education in schools recording less than 30 per cent results in SSC exams, it is quite ironical that the number of such schools are increasing by leaps and bounds every year. This exposes the gaping hole in the state’s education system, pooh-poohing state government’s efforts to improve quality of teaching in schools.
The state government claims to lay a lot of emphasis on quality education in schools registering below 30 per cent results in SSC and HSC. Every year, they aim to reduce the number of schools that record poor results by training teachers, introducing new methodology, conducting extra classes for students, organising more exams and and conducting special classes during vacation. Even during the summer vacation, classes were on in these schools this year.
The district education officers also keep assessing the performance of students in these schools so that they can troubleshoot the problems much ahead of the board exams.
Despite this, the number of schools that recorded below 30 per cent results were 922 in 2007; in 2008, the number grew to 968 and this year it has shot up to a record 1,236. In Ahmedabad city, 109 schools have registered below 30 per cent results this year, 11 more than last year. This year, there are as many as 78 such schools in Ahmedabad rural, 15 more than last year.
In 2007, there were 83 such schools in Ahmedabad city while in 2008 the number went up to 98. Similarly Ahmedabad rural had only 46 such schools in 2007 which grew to 63 in 2008.
This year, there are 119 schools that have recorded zero per cent results as compared to 91 in 2007. As many as 12 schools in Ahmedabad city and five in rural have recorded zero per cent results this time.
Sources in education department say, there are several factors responsible for a school faring badly. “These include leniency shown by teachers towards a dull student in lower classes, so that he does not lose a year. Also, the financial situation at his house would not be conducive for his all-round development,” the source says.
President of Ahmedabad City Principals’ Association Jayanti Patel says, “How can the schools improve their performance when they are not being given permission to recruit teachers in place of those who have retired or left? There are several vacancies in schools for teacher’s position. For the last five years, the government has not given the schools No Objection Certificates that allows them to hire new teachers. As a result, a Gujarati teacher would be teaching Maths while a Science teacher would be teaching students Social Studies as well. This is obviously going to impact the quality of education.”
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, June 05, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009060520090605033823821eb57d232)
While the state government claims to have been spending crores over quality education in schools recording less than 30 per cent results in SSC exams, it is quite ironical that the number of such schools are increasing by leaps and bounds every year. This exposes the gaping hole in the state’s education system, pooh-poohing state government’s efforts to improve quality of teaching in schools.
The state government claims to lay a lot of emphasis on quality education in schools registering below 30 per cent results in SSC and HSC. Every year, they aim to reduce the number of schools that record poor results by training teachers, introducing new methodology, conducting extra classes for students, organising more exams and and conducting special classes during vacation. Even during the summer vacation, classes were on in these schools this year.
The district education officers also keep assessing the performance of students in these schools so that they can troubleshoot the problems much ahead of the board exams.
Despite this, the number of schools that recorded below 30 per cent results were 922 in 2007; in 2008, the number grew to 968 and this year it has shot up to a record 1,236. In Ahmedabad city, 109 schools have registered below 30 per cent results this year, 11 more than last year. This year, there are as many as 78 such schools in Ahmedabad rural, 15 more than last year.
In 2007, there were 83 such schools in Ahmedabad city while in 2008 the number went up to 98. Similarly Ahmedabad rural had only 46 such schools in 2007 which grew to 63 in 2008.
This year, there are 119 schools that have recorded zero per cent results as compared to 91 in 2007. As many as 12 schools in Ahmedabad city and five in rural have recorded zero per cent results this time.
Sources in education department say, there are several factors responsible for a school faring badly. “These include leniency shown by teachers towards a dull student in lower classes, so that he does not lose a year. Also, the financial situation at his house would not be conducive for his all-round development,” the source says.
President of Ahmedabad City Principals’ Association Jayanti Patel says, “How can the schools improve their performance when they are not being given permission to recruit teachers in place of those who have retired or left? There are several vacancies in schools for teacher’s position. For the last five years, the government has not given the schools No Objection Certificates that allows them to hire new teachers. As a result, a Gujarati teacher would be teaching Maths while a Science teacher would be teaching students Social Studies as well. This is obviously going to impact the quality of education.”
