Nothing’s right
In a survey conducted by Mirror to check the standard of education in municipal schools, class 5 students failed to answer questions drawn from books of classes 1, 2 and 3
Yogesh Avasthi & Dhwani Pathak Dave
Posted On Wednesday, March 06, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013030620130306025908125e300686f/Nothing%E2%80%99s-right-.html
Kya aap paanchvi paas se tez ho? asked Shah Rukh Khan, setting a standard of how knowledgeable one should be. But if a survey conducted by Mirror in AMC-run schools is any indication, SRK might have to do a rethink. Corn (makai) and bitter gourd (karela) are classified as pulses. A wooden door is a transparent object. And it is ‘wrong’ to cut nails, answered class 5 students of municipal schools. Even as Chief Minister Narendra Modi has great plans for the Smart Class Project — an audio-visual learning process in government primary schools, these shocking answers reveal that it will take more than just technology to set the kids on the path of progress.
In a survey conducted by Mirror to check the standard of education in municipal schools, class 5 students failed to answer questions drawn from textbooks of classes 1, 2 and 3. Around 1.62 lakh students study in 456 schools run by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in the city. Mirror chose 68 boys and girls from different schools and tested their knowledge of Gujarati language, mathematics and environment. The survey comprised 20 questions.
IN ALPHABET SOUP
The students’ weakness was evident when 18 per cent of them could not write their names. About 40 per cent of them could not jot down the school’s name while 35 per cent were unable to name their city. Astaggering 69 per cent did not know Gujarati alphabet (barakhadi). They were unable to fill the gaps with the missing alphabet. Of these 31 per cent could not even partly fill the gaps. The barakhadi is taught in Class 1.
IT DOESN’T ADD UP
The overall performance was poor in mathematics, too. Forty- two per cent students could not arrange numbers in ascending order, while 65 per cent failed to complete the descending order. Students did well matching words to numbers (81 per cent), addition (65 per cent) and writing days of the week(65 per cent). However, 54 per cent failed subtraction, 41 per cent failed multiplication, and 65 per cent students failed division sums. Thirtytwo per cent students could not fill in missing numbers. Many students also failed to distinguish between symbols like ‘+’ for addition, ‘-’ for substraction and ‘x’ for multiplication. These arithmetic operations are taught in Class 2 and Class 3. The students flunked miserably (62 per cent) attempting multiple choice questions picked up from Class 2 and 3 environment textbooks. Fiftyseven per cent students failed to completely or partially identify five animals shown to them. An equal number of students could not distinguish between plants and animals.
DOUBLE THE EXPENDITURE
The performance of the students is alarming considering that AMC currently spends Rs 19,750 on each student. And it has more than doubled its 2013-14 budget for primary education from Rs 319.94 crore to Rs 645.20 crore. Even the state government has earmarked Rs 20 crore in its current budget for Smart Classes in government primary schools. “The corporation plans to spend Rs 39,888 per student (from next year), which is more than the fee charged by many grant-in-aid schools in the city. But it does not take much to teach children the basics. AMC must focus on strengthening the base rather and ensure this money is spent wisely,” said observers. Amunicipal school teacher, refusing to be named, said, “We are unable to pay attention to kids as we are engaged in government functions ranging from elections, census, and polio campaigns. Even students are roped in to perform at events like the Kankaria carnival and Vibrant Gujarat kite festival. There’s something or the other going on throughout the year. Where is the time for us to teach, and for students to learn? Also, irregular attendance is another reason affecting studies.”
‘COMPARISON UNFAIR’
Meanwhile, AMC School Board Chairman Jagdish Bhavsar was hopeful that this issue could be addressed. He said, “We are focusing on raising quality of education in our schools. We are working on teaching kids to read, write and count from the next academic year.” Bhavsar added. “It is unfair to compare us with private schools. The social, financial and economic realities of our students is quite different. Children have to bunk school to attend festivals or help parents with work at home. This upsets their study schedule. Also, many come from homes where the atmosphere is not conducive to productivity.”
SPENDING NOT JUSTIFIED
However, education expert Sukhdev Patel feels that the money spent by the corporation is not justified. Patel said, “Officials are not in touch with reality. There is no will to push for quality education. The question is, would such laxity or insensitivity be tolerated if the child of a political leader or teacher studies in a municipal school.” He added, “In the current year, there has been a decrease of 33 per cent in admissions for Class 1. Despite this, the education department has not taken any action. Schools lack basic infrastructure. Only the illiterate and poor send their children to AMC-run schools. We do not want any more ‘vibrant’ events. We want more teachers. We want proper toilets and drinking water facilities. We want quality education.”
SYSTEM FAILURE
» AMC has doubled expenditure on primary education to Rs 645.20 cr, or Rs 39,888 per student
» 18% of Class 5 students could not write their names
» 42% could not arrange numbers in ascending order, 65% could not arrange them in descending order
» 26% could not identify any of five animals shown to them
» 44% could not distinguish between plants and animals
» 69% had trouble filling in gaps in the Gujarati alphabet; 31% did not know the alphabet at all
» 65% can add, but 54% cannot subtract, 41% cannot multiply and 65% cannot perform simple division
» 81% can match pictures to words
Yogesh Avasthi & Dhwani Pathak Dave
Posted On Wednesday, March 06, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013030620130306025908125e300686f/Nothing%E2%80%99s-right-.html
Kya aap paanchvi paas se tez ho? asked Shah Rukh Khan, setting a standard of how knowledgeable one should be. But if a survey conducted by Mirror in AMC-run schools is any indication, SRK might have to do a rethink. Corn (makai) and bitter gourd (karela) are classified as pulses. A wooden door is a transparent object. And it is ‘wrong’ to cut nails, answered class 5 students of municipal schools. Even as Chief Minister Narendra Modi has great plans for the Smart Class Project — an audio-visual learning process in government primary schools, these shocking answers reveal that it will take more than just technology to set the kids on the path of progress.
In a survey conducted by Mirror to check the standard of education in municipal schools, class 5 students failed to answer questions drawn from textbooks of classes 1, 2 and 3. Around 1.62 lakh students study in 456 schools run by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in the city. Mirror chose 68 boys and girls from different schools and tested their knowledge of Gujarati language, mathematics and environment. The survey comprised 20 questions.
IN ALPHABET SOUP
The students’ weakness was evident when 18 per cent of them could not write their names. About 40 per cent of them could not jot down the school’s name while 35 per cent were unable to name their city. Astaggering 69 per cent did not know Gujarati alphabet (barakhadi). They were unable to fill the gaps with the missing alphabet. Of these 31 per cent could not even partly fill the gaps. The barakhadi is taught in Class 1.
IT DOESN’T ADD UP
The overall performance was poor in mathematics, too. Forty- two per cent students could not arrange numbers in ascending order, while 65 per cent failed to complete the descending order. Students did well matching words to numbers (81 per cent), addition (65 per cent) and writing days of the week(65 per cent). However, 54 per cent failed subtraction, 41 per cent failed multiplication, and 65 per cent students failed division sums. Thirtytwo per cent students could not fill in missing numbers. Many students also failed to distinguish between symbols like ‘+’ for addition, ‘-’ for substraction and ‘x’ for multiplication. These arithmetic operations are taught in Class 2 and Class 3. The students flunked miserably (62 per cent) attempting multiple choice questions picked up from Class 2 and 3 environment textbooks. Fiftyseven per cent students failed to completely or partially identify five animals shown to them. An equal number of students could not distinguish between plants and animals.
DOUBLE THE EXPENDITURE
The performance of the students is alarming considering that AMC currently spends Rs 19,750 on each student. And it has more than doubled its 2013-14 budget for primary education from Rs 319.94 crore to Rs 645.20 crore. Even the state government has earmarked Rs 20 crore in its current budget for Smart Classes in government primary schools. “The corporation plans to spend Rs 39,888 per student (from next year), which is more than the fee charged by many grant-in-aid schools in the city. But it does not take much to teach children the basics. AMC must focus on strengthening the base rather and ensure this money is spent wisely,” said observers. Amunicipal school teacher, refusing to be named, said, “We are unable to pay attention to kids as we are engaged in government functions ranging from elections, census, and polio campaigns. Even students are roped in to perform at events like the Kankaria carnival and Vibrant Gujarat kite festival. There’s something or the other going on throughout the year. Where is the time for us to teach, and for students to learn? Also, irregular attendance is another reason affecting studies.”
‘COMPARISON UNFAIR’
Meanwhile, AMC School Board Chairman Jagdish Bhavsar was hopeful that this issue could be addressed. He said, “We are focusing on raising quality of education in our schools. We are working on teaching kids to read, write and count from the next academic year.” Bhavsar added. “It is unfair to compare us with private schools. The social, financial and economic realities of our students is quite different. Children have to bunk school to attend festivals or help parents with work at home. This upsets their study schedule. Also, many come from homes where the atmosphere is not conducive to productivity.”
SPENDING NOT JUSTIFIED
However, education expert Sukhdev Patel feels that the money spent by the corporation is not justified. Patel said, “Officials are not in touch with reality. There is no will to push for quality education. The question is, would such laxity or insensitivity be tolerated if the child of a political leader or teacher studies in a municipal school.” He added, “In the current year, there has been a decrease of 33 per cent in admissions for Class 1. Despite this, the education department has not taken any action. Schools lack basic infrastructure. Only the illiterate and poor send their children to AMC-run schools. We do not want any more ‘vibrant’ events. We want more teachers. We want proper toilets and drinking water facilities. We want quality education.”
SYSTEM FAILURE
» AMC has doubled expenditure on primary education to Rs 645.20 cr, or Rs 39,888 per student
» 18% of Class 5 students could not write their names
» 42% could not arrange numbers in ascending order, 65% could not arrange them in descending order
» 26% could not identify any of five animals shown to them
» 44% could not distinguish between plants and animals
» 69% had trouble filling in gaps in the Gujarati alphabet; 31% did not know the alphabet at all
» 65% can add, but 54% cannot subtract, 41% cannot multiply and 65% cannot perform simple division
» 81% can match pictures to words
