The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) has presented a grim picture of J&K’s education sector in its 18th report, raising questions about decrease in student enrolment, learning levels and lack of facilities in government schools. Deflating the government claims about increase in enrollment in the government schools the report states that around 52 percent of the schools in J&K have less than 60 students on their rolls. There are more than 23773 government schools -13175 primary, 8140 middle, 1836 high schools and 622 higher secondary schools in the state. As per the ASER more than 11800 schools have failed to improve the enrollment over the years. Besides poor enrolment, the report also talks about “accommodation crunch” in government schools saying 61 percent schools accommodate students of 2nd primary with students of other classes. Also, 52 percent schools accommodate students of class 4th with students of other classes in their own schools. These schools are facing accommodation problem despite government of India allocating crores of rupees for building infrastructure for school going children. The report about dismal picture of education sector has come to fore at a time when union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) has been stressing on all the states including J&K to revamp the education sector. In 2017 the ministry had provided a detailed roadmap to J&K to overcome the challenges and improve the overall functioning of the school education department. The report reveals that only 58 percent government schools have library books available for the students, but only 26 percent schools use these books on daily basis. It has punctured the much hyped initiative of setting up CAL centres and ICT laboratories in government, revealing that only 17 percent schools have computer facilities for the students. About the availability of sports equipment in the schools, the ASER states that almost three quarters of schools were seen to have “some form” of sports equipment. “More than a quarter of all schools in Jammu and Kashmir were lacking access to a playground. Only 54 percent schools had playground,” the report reveals. “Only 38 percent schools have boundary wall as per the survey conducted in 2018.” The report states that only 56 percent schools have a playground inside the school premises, 16 percent schools have playground outside the school premises and 27.3 percent schools up to class 8th have no access to a playground for students. The report also talks about deficiencies of basic facilities of drinking water and toilet facilities in government schools. “Less than 50 percent of schools have provision for drinking water or girls’ toilets. Majority of schools in J&K state and other north-east states did not have library books available for students,” the report reads. The lack of drinking water and toilet facilities in government schools has exposed the government claims of equipping these educational institutions with the facilities under Swwach Bharat Abhiyan- an initiative taken in 2015 to provide the facilities to the schools in the state. The state authorities had in 2015 given an undertaking to the government of India that all the schools are equipped with functional toilet and drinking water facilities. The report has also painted a grim picture of learning outcomes of academic standards in government schools particularly at primary and middle level. As per the ASER findings, only 22.3 percent children of class 3rd can read the text from 2nd primary text books and only 36 percent students are able to do subtraction. Similarly, only 41.9 percent students are able to read text from 2nd primary text books and only 25 percent can do division. “Only 32 percent students from class 8th can do division,” the report reads. The dismal performance of students on learning outcomes has been reported despite the school education department roping in around 20 NGOs for their academic assistance in schools. These NGOs were supposed to give trainings to teachers and improve the learning outcomes as well. But all such measures have failed to bring any change at the primary and middle level, throwing a major challenge for the department. Besides learning outcomes and infrastructural deficiencies in schools the annual report has stated that education department is lagging behind in maintaining the requisite pupil-teacher ratio in government schools. As per the report, only 43.8 percent schools in J&K state comply with classroom teacher ratio (PTR). The government has itself admitted that the posting of teachers in schools was done while dealing with societal pressure, leaving government schools with disproportionate PTR. Recently advisor to Governor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai stated that teachers want their postings in schools adjacently located to their homes.
As per ASER data
Around 52 % of the schools in J&K have less than 60 students on rolls
More than 11800 schools have failed to improve enrollment over the years.
61 % schools accommodate students of 2nd primary with students of other classes
Only 58 % government schools have library books available for the students, but only 26 % schools use these books on daily basis.
Only 17 % schools have computers facilities for the students