State ranked No 1 in learning outcome in basic reading, maths: Report

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 19

Despite the fact that there is no perceptible improvement in learning levels of students in Himachal, the state has achieved the first rank in learning outcome in basic reading and mathematics across the country as per the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2016.

“In language, the achievement level of government schools is 65.3 per cent as compared to the national level which is 41.6 per cent, while in mathematics the achievement level of the state is 47.4 percent as compared to national status of 21.1 per cent,” said state project coordinator of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Ghansham Chand, adding that enrollment ratio of students in the age group of 6-14 is 99.8 per cent.

As per the report, 53 per cent students of Class III, 29.5 per cent students of Class V and 12 per cent students of Class VIII cannot read Class II-level text in the state. Fifteen per cent children of Class I cannot even read letters, 43.4 per cent can only read letters while 78 per cent cannot read words. Further, 77 per cent students of Class IV cannot read Class I-level text and only 61.8 per cent can read Class II-level text.

In 2014, 46.6 per cent students of CLass III could read Class II-level text while the percentage of Class V and Class VIII, who could read Class II text was higher at 75.3 per cent and 92 per cent.

In arithmetic, 8.2 per cent students of Class I could not recognise even single digit numbers, 34 per cent could recognise numbers from 0 to 9 while 47.6 per cent from 10 to 99 and only 59.2 per cent students of Class VIII and 52.7 per cent of Class VII could divide. Even in subtraction, only 31 per cent children of Class IV and 21.9 per cent children of Class VIII could subtract, but not divide.

In 2014, 52.4 per cent children in Class III could do subtraction, while 47 per cent students of Class V and 61.8 per cent students of Class VIII could do division.

The situation was no different in reading and comprehension in English and 18.4 per cent children of Class I could not even read capital letters, 15 per cent could read capital letters, 31.2 per cent small letters, 25.2 per cent simple words and 9.8 per cent easy sentences.

Seventy per cent students of Class VII and 72 per cent of Class VIII, who could read words could tell their meanings also, while 67.3 per cent and 75.2 per cent could read sentences and tell their meanings.