Problems in education sector of Assam and steps have taken by government(GS2,GS5)

Problems in the Education Sector of Assam

1) Infrastructure Deficiencies:

Lack of Basic Amenities: Many schools lack adequate infrastructure, including proper classrooms, sanitation facilities, and drinking water.

Dilapidated Buildings: Numerous schools operate in buildings that are old and unsafe, posing risks to students and staff.

2) Teacher Shortage and Quality:

Inadequate Teacher-Student Ratio: Many schools, especially in rural areas, face a significant shortage of qualified teachers, leading to high teacher-student ratios.

Quality of Teaching: There are concerns regarding the quality of education provided due to lack of proper training and professional development for teachers.

3) Access and Enrollment Issues:

Dropout Rates: High dropout rates, particularly among girls and children from marginalized communities, remain a persistent issue.

Distance to Schools: In remote and rural areas, long distances to the nearest school deter regular attendance.

4) Curriculum and Learning Outcomes:

Outdated Curriculum: The curriculum often does not meet the current educational and vocational needs of students.

Low Learning Outcomes: Students often perform poorly in basic literacy and numeracy skills compared to national averages.

5) Language Barriers:

Multilingual Challenges: Assam is linguistically diverse, and students from different linguistic backgrounds face challenges in coping with the medium of instruction.

6) Economic Barriers:

Poverty: Economic hardships force many children to drop out of school to support their families, particularly in rural areas.

Steps Taken by the Government

1. Infrastructure Development:

School Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF): The government has allocated funds specifically for the construction and renovation of school buildings, provision of drinking water, and sanitation facilities.

Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF): Utilised for developing infrastructure in rural schools to bridge the urban-rural divide.

2. Teacher Recruitment and Training:

TET (Teacher Eligibility Test): Regular conduction of TET to recruit qualified teachers.

Teacher Training Programs: Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs are conducted to enhance the skills and knowledge of teachers.

3. Enrollment and Retention Initiatives:

Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Providing free lunches to improve attendance and nutrition.

Free Uniforms and Textbooks: Distribution of free uniforms, textbooks, and bicycles to encourage enrolment and reduce dropouts.

4. Curriculum and Learning Enhancement:

Learning Enhancement Programs: Initiatives like 'Gunotsav' aim to evaluate and improve learning outcomes.

Introduction of ICT in Education: Implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to modernise teaching methods and make learning more engaging.

5. Special Schemes for Marginalized Communities:

Scholarships and Financial Aid: Providing scholarships to students from economically weaker sections and marginalised communities.

Hostels and Residential Schools: Establishing residential schools and hostels to provide a conducive learning environment for children from remote areas.

6. Language and Cultural Inclusion:

Multilingual Education: Introducing mother-tongue-based multilingual education to cater to the linguistic diversity of the state.

7. State- Standards Setting Authority (SSSA)

Over 21000 teachers have been trained on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.

8. Expenditure

6% of GDP on Education in budget and launching of NIPUN Axom mission

9. Use of local languages

Locally contextualised teaching learning materials

More than 8000 contents in ‘DIKSHA’ Platform

Assam is the first state to initiate primary education in six different languages. E.g.- Bodo, Koch Rajbongshi, deori,Nepali etc.

10. Around 100 model schools in tea garden areas and the initiation of “AAROHAN” scheme for mentoring and monitoring for talented students from remote areas in collaboration with the local DC’S.

11. “Bikoxito Jiban Parikalpana” scheme which provides scholarships to underprivileged students to undergo professional coaching.

Data and Examples

1) Infrastructure Development:

According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2020, significant improvements in school infrastructure were noted, with over 70% of schools having usable toilets.

2) Teacher Recruitment:

In 2021, the Assam government recruited over 9,000 teachers through the TET to address the shortage of teachers in government schools.

3) Enrollment and Retention:

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme has shown positive impacts, with a reported increase in attendance by approximately 10-15% in participating schools.

4)Learning Outcomes:

The Gunotsav program, initiated in 2017, has been instrumental in assessing learning outcomes. In 2022, about 45% of the assessed schools showed improvement in basic literacy and numeracy skills compared to the previous year.

5) Special Schemes:

The government’s initiative to provide bicycles to girl students has reduced the dropout rate among girls in secondary education by about 7%.

              The Assam government has been proactive in addressing the various challenges in its education sector through comprehensive policies and targeted interventions. However, continuous efforts and monitoring are necessary to sustain and build upon these improvements.