We must revamp schools as they open after the pandemic break 

News: Recently, there has been a decline in the severity of covid pandemic. As a result, the schools have been re-opened after a gap of almost two years. In this context, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) was released.  

What are some recent trends?

There has been a shift in enrolment from private to government schools between 2018 and 2021 across all grades and among both boys and girls in rural areas. This was more pronounced in the lowest grades. For example, Overall, a total of 17 states saw an increase in enrolment in government schools. Out of all, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala topped the list.   

On average in 2021, the proportion of children aged 6-14 currently not enrolled in school has increased by 2.1 percentage points compared to the 2018 level. The status of currently-not- enrolled students compared to 2018 in different states is Andhra Pradesh (7%), Manipur (15.5%), Nagaland (19.6%) and Telangana (11.8%). 

What are the challenges after unlocking schools? 

Students have spent most of their time at home with either semi-structured or no educational activity.  

The already poor state of school infrastructure might have further deteriorated in the past two years. The government schools were either closed or used as the isolation centres for covid-positive patients.  

As per data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) data for 2019-20, the state of availability of computers, internet facilities, furniture, electricity, ramps for the physically disabled, etc. is very poor in the government schools.  

There are existing challenges related to inadequate recruitment and management of teachers, inadequacy of teacher training and acute scarcity of teachers in government schools.  

As per the ASER and SCHOOL survey by Road Scholarz report, there is a learning crisis in India. The proportion of children who cannot read and do arithmetic operations have increased especially in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.  

What are the opportunities for the state-run education system? 

The rising enrolment levels in government schools offer a chance for the state governments. They can ‘seize the moment’ and ensure the retention of students in state-run schools.  

Way Forward 

There is a need to address a few key challenges that confront government schools. These are: 

The school should be prepared to resume structured educational activities and ensure conducive classroom spaces sensitive to the prolonged anxiety, stress and isolation that students face.  

Therefore, starting this academic year, schools should identify the children who are lagging behind. The students must run basic revision and bridge programmes for them to consolidate their skills of reading, writing, numeracy and comprehension at their own pace.  

The National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat is a reassuring step in this direction. 

The shift to government schools in a time of crisis indicates that people expect the state to play the right role in providing education. The “right to education” is a matter of right and not just another ‘service’.  

A revamp of school infrastructure is the need of the hour. The special focus should be given on information and communication technology. 

The gap in the stipulated pupil-teacher ratio in the government schools needs to be bridged.  

Source: The post is based on an article “We must revamp schools as they open after the pandemic break” published in the Live Mint on 20th April 2022.