Below average

By Yogesh Avasthi, Ahmedabad Mirror | Oct 11, 2016, http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/cover-story/Below-average/articleshow/54785845.cms

What we knew all along has now been confirmed. A national survey has provided enough fodder to nail the quality of education in the state. According to findings of National Achievement Survey (State Report Card) conducted by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), class 10 students of Gujarat have performed way below the national average in all the five important subjects (English, Social Science, Gujarati, Maths and Science). The sample-based survey conducted for the first time in class 10 included 14,361 students from 350 schools across the state whose performance in the five subjects was assessed. Alarmed by the central findings, the state education department has undertaken special training sessions for the teachers.
However, the training has been imparted only to teachers of English, Social Science and Gujarati as the department found students weak in these subjects in last year’s boards. The department has initiated training to 4,090 teachers of Gujarati, 3,680 Social Science teachers and 4,660 teachers of English. An education board official said, “Class 10 result of Gujarat Board students not being up to the mark for the past two years has been a major concern for the Education department. Students have been found to be particularly lacking in English, Social Science and Gujarati.
The NAS confirmed that students have been below the national average in these three subjects, besides Maths and Science.” Last year, state students scored on an average 73.37 per cent, 78.12 and 59.14 per cent in Gujarati (first language), Social Science and English (second language) respectively, while this year the average scores were 72.43, 75.75 and 58.01per cent respectively in these subjects. In Maths and Science it was 55.05 per cent and 56.12 per cent last year, compared to 55.21 per cent and 57.36 per cent respectively this year.

After the NAS findings, Additional State Project Director, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) M M Jani issued a circular highlighting the poor performance of students in class 10 (in 2015 and 2016). Subsequently, training of class 9 teachers was undertaken based on the new methodology and content. The sessions for teachers of Gujarati, Social Science and English have held at the state and district levels. Three phases have been conducted at the state level from (September 6 to 23) in Gandhinagar, while at the district level, two phases have been completed (From September 26 to October 7), while the third phase for English will begin on October 13 and end on 17.
 

GUJARAT STUDENTS WEAKER THAN REST OF NATION

The state average in all the three subjects is lower than the national average. It’s 225 in English, 233 in Social Science, 235 in Gujarati, 231 in Maths and 228 in Science (as compared to the national average of 250).

URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE: BUSTING LANGUAGE STEREOTYPES

The survey busted the belief that urban students fare better in foreign language -- English, while rural students are good in local language -- Gujarati. Urban students’ performance in all the three subjects is better than their rural counterparts in the state. The figures are 223 vs 228 for rural and urban students in English, 229 vs 239 in Social Science and 231vs 243 in Gujarati. Surprisingly, the disparity between rural and urban students was most pronounced even in Gujarati, considered the mother tongue of most students in rural areas as well.

URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE ADVERSE IN SCIENCE

The performance in Maths for urban and rural students was 233 vs 230 respectively, while for Science it was 223 for rural students and 235 for urban students.

GIRLS SHOWED A WIDER LEAD IN GUJARAT

As has been seen, girls performed better in all subjects than boys. However, their lead over boys was most pronounced in Gujarati. The scores for boys and girls respectively are: 224 vs 227 in English, 232 vs 235 in Social Science and 230 vs 245 in Gujarati.

GOVT SCHOOLS POOR IN ENGLISH

Students of government schools underperformed in all the three subjects as compared to their private counterparts. However, there was a marked difference in English (218 of govt vs 225 state average) than Social Science (228 vs 233) and Gujarati (230 vs 235).

MOST PROFICIENCY NEEDED IN GUJARATI

While 22.2 per cent needed significant improvement in Gujarati, the parallel requirement in Social Science was 19.9 per cent and 16.9 per cent in English. This means, students of Gujarat need more improvement in local language (Gujarati) than foreign language (English), when compared to students of other states. The figures (of those who needed significant improvement) was 17.1 per cent in Maths and 21.0 per cent in Science.

WHAT PRINCIPALS HAVE TO SAY

C N Vidhyalaya Principal Hitendra Trivedi said, “In the past 10 years, state government has changed education policy several times. This has created confusion. Besides, the change in policies have been made keeping in focus only classes 11and 12 and science subjects, while giving less weightage to English, Social Science and Gujarati. Inadequate recruitment of teachers is another issue. Moreover, the MCQ pattern has killed the creativity of students. All these is having an impact on education of class 10.”

Educationist Ashok Patel said, “If we want to improve things at the secondary level, things should be made solid at the primary level. Teachers should be explained the right, effective ways and methods of teaching. The education system should not just benefit the intelligent students, but it should also cater to weaker students. Currently, weak students are ignored.”

St Xavier’s Loyola Principal Fr F Durai said, “As both students and parents are not keen on languages, not much attention is paid to them. Social science is a lengthy subject. Old events, dates are not of much interest to students, so they lose interest.”

According to A G High School Principal Nirav Thakkar, “Many schools don’t give importance to English, Social Science and Gujarati. These should be taught in a better manner right from the elementary level. Teaching of Maths and Science too must improve.” Rakesh Kapoor, a student’s father said, “These three subjects are not taken seriously by students, teachers and parents.”