Expressing disappointment on the falling standards of education in the government-run schools is an annual feature. The lament gets louder immediately after the announcement of results of matriculation examinations. The pass percentage as against hundred per cent in most of the private school is zero per cent in many state-run schools, and as regards merit these stand nowhere. Basking in the reflected glory of the performance of the private schools the state and society are yet to realise the impact of the falling stands of education in the government-run schools. Out of total 28.5 lakhs of school going children, 16.5 lakhs are enrolled in these schools. Just a negligible percentage from these schools go far higher studies, and a good number start dropping out much before even reaching class ten. Instead, of taking the issue seriously and putting concerted efforts for improving the standard the state education department, time and again announced ad-hoc steps, meaning nothing.
For achieving a hundred per cent education in the state, the government after considering various parameters established schools all over the state. Mainly the focus was the remote and socially backward area. Instead of addressing the cause for an increasing number of dropouts in government schools in 2015, the state adopted yet another ad-hoc policy. It merged at 2406 schools; these included 1834 operating from rented accommodations, and 572 functioning in government-owned buildings. The fall in enrollment in these schools was given as a reason for merging them with other schools. But did that serve the purpose. It is an admitted fact that the government run schools mostly have highly qualified and trained teachers. Nevertheless, something is somewhere wrong in our educational policy that has dampened initiative and dedication in these teachers to work for improving standards of education in the schools.
It cannot be denied about a million of students in these schools having no chairs and desks are sitting on the floor, seventy per cent of schools are without electricity, and thousands of schools including girls are without toilets, and lack of these basic facilities have been contributing to decreasing in enrollment. Nevertheless, the lack of these facilities cannot be the primary cause for the falling standards in education in the government-run schools. Instead of taking some ad-hoc step the government should appoint a committee of experts to look into the problem.