Nearly 50 per cent of students in Class 3 in Bihar’s government schools cannot perform addition of three-digit numbers while only 64 per cent can correctly add two-digit numbers. Only 40 per cent students of Classes 5 and 7 could read and comprehend simple stories written in Hindi.
These findings in the latest baseline survey of learning levels in Bihar’s government-run primary and middle schools have come as a shock. It has also almost closed the debate over the difference of teaching qualities between regular teachers and contractual ones as the survey found it made no difference in the students’ learning levels.
Only 68 per cent students in Class 5 were found able to perform addition of four-digit numbers and 20 per cent students in class three have no idea about trees or flowers, said the survey’s findings. While students in both rural and urban schools displayed nearly the same levels of learning levels and aptitude in mathematics, students at government schools in the rural areas were found more proficient in Hindi language than those in urban schools.
The survey report was prepared by Educational Initiatives Pvt. Ltd., the surveying agency, after analysing data from 1.02 lakh students. Students of Classes 3, 5 and 7 were included for this survey that took stock of the learning levels of children in two per cent of schools in each of Bihar’s 38 districts both in rural and urban areas.
Apart from their academic levels, the students’ general awareness was also examined in tests ranging between 60 minutes and 90 minutes held in March.
“Nearly 20 per cent students surveyed displayed no interest at all in studies,” said Sridhar, who headed the survey operations.