Bengaluru: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2016 has again painted a bleak picture of the education system in the state. The report covers the learning levels of students, school infrastructure, enrolment trend, government funding to schools and out-of-school children.
According to the report, even after several interventions, the learning level of students between Standards I and VIII, both in government and private schools, remain very low.
One of the major findings of the ASER report is that language and mathematics learning levels of students have dipped from 2010.
It stated that only 36.2% of students studying in the Standard VI and Standard VIII know division. The lowest learning levels are in Kalaburagi division, which has recorded 25.1%. Only 60.1% of students in Bengaluru division who are studying between Standards VI and VIII can read Standard II level textbooks. It is 51.9% for the Kalaburagi division.
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Negative trend
The report stated that in 2010, 45.1% students in Standard V could read Standard II level textbooks. But it has come down to 42.1% in 2016. The percentage of students in Standard VIII who can read Standard II level textbook too has come down to 70.1% in 2016 from 72.9% in 2010.
Mixed trend in maths
The report found that in 2010, 20.1% students studying in Standard V knew division. But it has come down to 19.7% in 2016. In 2010, 45.6% of students of Standard VIII knew division, but this has come down to 42.2% in 2016. The percentage of Children in Standard III who can do at least subtraction between year 2010 and 2016 has increased from 27.3 to 28.9.
English language skills
The report stated that 49.6% students studying in the Standard VIII can’t read easy English sentences, while 25.8% students of this standard can’t read simple words.
Reference to private schools: The report stated that more than half of Bengaluru students, 56%, in the age group of 6 and 14 years are studying in private schools. In Udupi, private school students constitute 55%. Majority of private schools in the state are following English medium. In Koppal, which is one of the most backward districts of the state, only 13% students of this age group are in the private schools.
