Skip to main content

Poor net enrollment ratio pulls down Gujarat’s primary education index

By Rajiv Shah 
Gujarat’s education development index (EDI) has slipped both in lower primary and upper primary level because of the failure to address human resource issues. 
The latest flash statistics in “Elementary Education in India: Progress towards Universal Elementary Education”, a just-published report, has found that, despite the hype around Kanya Kelavni enrolment drive for ensuring cent per cent enrolment at the primary level, Gujarat’s ranking for both the lower primary (classes I to V) and the upper primary level (classes VI to VIII) have badly slipped. Put out in November 2013, the report has found that if the overall education development index (EDI) of Gujarat dropped from 9th in 2011-12 to 18th in 2012-13 among 35 Indian states and union territories, as for the lower primary level, the rank slipped from the 12th to the 28th position. The performance is slightly better for the upper primary level; however, here too Gujarat’s rank, which was 8th in 2011-12, slipped to 14th in 2012-13.
A comparison between major Indian states suggests that the best performer for the lower primary education in 2012-13 was Tamil Nadu, which ranked No 1 with a score of 0.662 on a scale of one. Other major states which performed better than Gujarat were Karnataka (0.615), Punjab (0.586), Maharashtra (0.583), Uttarakhand (0.577), Jammu & Kashmir (0.576), Himachal Pradesh (0.576), West Bengal (0.563), Odisha (0.559), Kerala (0.555), Andhra Pradesh (0.553), Madhya Pradesh (0.553), Uttar Pradesh (0.551) and Bihar (0.529). Gujarat’s score of 0.527 was not only worse than 15 of the 20 major states, but, pitiably, well below the so-called backward states Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
The report, which provides data as of September 2012, has further found that, as for the upper primary level, no doubt, the relative performance of Gujarat was better than several major states — even though here too its EDI ranking slipped. Here, five major states which performed better than Gujarat were Tamil Nadu, with an EDI score of 0.704, followed by Punjab (0.708), Karnataka (0.707), Tamil Nadu (0.704), Maharashtra (0.687) and Himachal Pradesh (0.675). Gujarat’s EDI score for the upper primary level was 0.656 on a scale of one. While calculating inter-state EDI score, a set of 24 indicators were regrouped into four sub-groups – access to education, infrastructure, teachers and outcome indicators — in order to arrive at an EDI.
Data suggest that Gujarat’s ranking was better at the upper primary level only because the state was able to provide better infrastructure facilities to schools. In fact, as far as infrastructure was concerned, Gujarat was ranked No 4 among 35 states and union territories, for which data were collected. Only two major states out of 20 performed better than Gujarat (EDI score 0.849) – Karnataka with a score of 0.889 on a scale of one and Himachal Pradesh with a score of 0.850. The infrastructure factor included categories like student-classroom ratio, classroom-teacher ratio, drinking water facilities, boys’ and girls’ toilets, and kitchen sheds for midday meal.
Net enrollment ratio at the lower primary level
While things were found to be not very bad when it came to infrastructure facilities at the lower primary level, where Gujarat improved its EDI ranking to No 11 in 2012-13 from No 17 in 2011-12, what really pulled Gujarat backwards was access to education, especially at the lower primary level. Thus, here Gujarat ranked one of the worst — No 34th among 35 Indian states and union territories. The factors taken into account under access to education were density of schools per 10 square kilomtres are, availability of schools per 1,000 child population, and the ratio of lower primary to upper primary schools/ sections.
Net enrollment ratio at the upper primary level
Like access to education, things were not found to be particularly good for the state’s outcome index at the lower primary level. While here Gujarat ranked No 29 among 35 states and union territories, the outcome index is significant as it sought to analyse such factors like average number of instructional days, working hours for teachers, percentage improvement in enrollment in government schools, percentage enrollment of SC, ST and Muslim children, ratio of girls’ enrollment, dropout rate, and transition rate from primary to upper primary level. As for the outcome ranking of the upper primary schools, things were slightly better but worse than many states — Gujarat’s EDI ranking was No 20 among 35 states and union territories.
In fact, data seek to demolish the myth of cent per cent enrollment at the primary level suggest that Gujarat fared particularly bad with regard to the net enrollment ratio at the lower primary level. It was found to stand at just 83.99 per cent, as against the all-India average of 90.76 per cent. The net enrollment rate at the lower primary level for Gujarat, significantly, was worse than the so-called socially backward states like Bihar (85.67 per cent), Chhattisgarh (98.02 per cent), Odisha (89.06 per cent), and Uttar Pradesh (96.67 per cent), apart from several other states.
As for the upper primary schools, in Gujarat, things with regard to net enrollment ratio were found to be only slightly better – at 67.42 per cent – as against the all-India average of 64.24 per cent. Even then, it was worse than Kerala (80.08 per cent), Assam (70.25 per cent), Chhattisgarh (71.40 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (75.26 per cent), Jharkhand (68.53 per cent), Karnataka (68.53 per cent), Maharashtra (71.51 per cent), Punjab (70.30 per cent), Tamil Nadu (75.88 per cent), and so on. Significantly, the inter-state data of schools were compiled and collated on the basis of the facts provided by the respective state governments’ education departments.

Comments

TRENDING

Abrogation of Art 370: Increasing alienation, relentless repression, simmering conflict

One year after the abrogation by the Central Government of Art. 370 in Kashmir, what is the situation in the Valley. Have the promises of peace, normalcy and development been realised? What is the current status in the Valley? Here is a detailed note by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties , “Jammu & Kashmir: One Year after Abrogation of Art. 370: Increasing Alienation, Relentless Repression, Simmering Conflict”:

Repeated failure to appoint Chief, other commissioners undermining RTI Act

By Anjali Bhardwaj, Amrita Johri* The post of the Chief Information Commissioner of the Central Information Commission (CIC) has fallen vacant with the retirement of Bimal Julka with effect from August 27, 2020. This is the fifth time in the last six years that the Commission has been rendered headless. Four posts of information commissioners are also vacant in the CIC. Currently more than 35,000 appeals and complaints are pending in the commission resulting in citizens having to wait for months, even years for their cases to be disposed, thereby frustrating peoples’ right to know. Since May 2014, not a single commissioner of the CIC has been appointed without citizens having to approach courts. The failure of the government to make timely appointments of commissioners is a flagrant violation of the directions of the Supreme Court. In its February 2019 judgment, the apex court had categorically stated that if the CIC does not have a Chief Information Commissioner or required strength

Panchayat funds defrauded: Roads without potholes a fundamental right but not here

Kirity Roy, Secretary Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), and National Convenor (PACTI) Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity, writes to the chairman, National Human Rights Commission: *** Through this complaint, I want to draw your attention to the plight of the villagers of Nawdapara in the District of North 24 Parganas. The village is situated under the Bagdah Police Station, Bagdah Block and Mama Bhagina Post Office respectively. Nawdapara is a Muslim minority populated village. Indo Bangladesh Border Road (IBBR) passes through the middle of the village. There is a naka checking post of the BSF inside the village and BSF associated with Mama Bhagina Border Out Post, 68 Battalion, ‘B’ Company guard 24 hours in that check post. People have lived in this village since the independence of India. The market is about three to four kilometres away from Nawdapara village. One primary school is situated within the village but the high school is about five to six kilo

Ultimate champion in crisis, arguably best ever skipper: Created history in Aussie cricket

By Harsh Thakor  In the history of cricket few cricketers knit and propelled a cricket team or had such profound influence on the game as Ian Chappell. Ian Chappell was responsible for converting a bunch of talented individuals into a world beating side, giving a dramatic turn to Australian cricket. Few cricketers ever led such a renaissance.

BSF's unconstitutional, whimsical order violates life, livelihood of Dalits, minorities

Kirity Roy, Secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), writes to the Chairman, National Human Rights Commission: *** I want to attract your attention towards the illegitimate restrictions on the life and livelihood of the villagers of Paschim Sahebganj village under Dinhata - II Block and Sahebganj police station in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal by the Border Security Force personnel attached with Dharala Border Out Post under 138 Battalion BSF. The population of Paschim Sahebganj village is around 1480, where almost 75 percent of the villagers belong from Hindu Scheduled Caste (Dalit) and 25 percent from minority Muslim backgrounds.The main occupation of the villagers is agriculture. About 260 acres of cultivable land in the village that belongs to the villagers is located outside the border fencing, which is heavily guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF). The BSF regulates the ingress and egress of the villagers to their fields through the fencing gates that a

Largest democracy in world has become weakest at hands of fascist Hindutva forces

Note on “The Nazification of India”, a report released By Justice For All: *** This report, the Nazification of India, compares how Hindutva ideology not only is inspired by Nazis and Fascists of Europe, but their treatment of the Muslim minority closely follows developments that resulted in pushing Jews to the gas chambers. Situation is indeed quite alarming. The report says that the largest democracy in the world has become the weakest at the hands of the fascist Hindutva ideology. India today is ruled not just by a political party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but its mother organization the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Because the BJP’s government policies are linked to extra-legal enforcement by RSS paramilitary street power, this report has coined the term “The BJP-RSS regime” to reflect their intrinsic links and collaborative relationship. The Nazification of India report marks the anniversary of the Gujarat pogroms of 2002 against Muslims which propelled the BJP-RSS

Varanasi social worker who has devoted her life for the ultra-poor and the marginalized

Passion Vista and its partners profile Founder and Managing Trustee Shruti Nagvanshi as  someone whom women leaders look up to: *** Shruti Nagvanshi, a social worker and human rights activist based in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has devoted her life to reaching out to the ultra-poor and marginalized communities in India. Born in Dashashwmedh, Varanasi on 2 January 1974, she married Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi on 22 February 1992 and has a son, Kabeer Karunik, a Business management Graduate who is also a national level snooker player.

An approach to lake/pond restoration by Ramveer Tanvar, Pond Man of India

By Monami Bhattacharya*, Mansee Bal Bhargava**  Lakes/ ponds are often referred to as an elixir of life, a living ecosystem that adds incremental value to the larger biota. Across the tropical landscape of the country lakes/ ponds are a common sight. Lakes/ponds have always shaped the life and livelihood of those dwelling in and around it. The dependence of the local population on these natural resources of water is noticeable since time immemorial. However, they are fading fast in both rural and urbanscapes from the popular parlance with the advance of humanity. It has been a popular notion to value land more than the waterscape and hence these nurturers of life are under stress in several areas. In many instances, these once beautiful waterscapes referred as the ‘Eye of the Earth’ are mostly now only dilapidated garbage dump yards emitting foul smell with no sign of a healthy ecosystem.

Urban crisis: Impact of erosion of democratic framework on Indian cities

By IMPRI Team  On 13th February, 2023, IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi in collaboration with ActionAid Association India arranged a book launch followed by lecture series under the title “India’s G20 Presidency & the Urban Agenda for the Developing Countries”. The event was held in Indian International Centre (IIC) Annex, New Delhi. The event began with the book inauguration session, under the honorary presence of Mr Sitaram Yechury, former Rajya Sabha member and General Secretary, CPI (M), accompanied by Mr Sandeep Chachra, executive director, ActionAid Association India. Session 1 | Book Launch: ‘Cities in Transition’ by Mr Tikender Singh Panwar The book launched was “Cities in Transition”, written by Mr Tikender Singh Panwar, former Deputy Mayor, Shimla and a Senior Fellow at IMPRI. Beginning with brief remarks on his book, Mr Panwar outlined the basic subject matter and the purpose behind writing the book, which he considers as a by-product of his experien

Why rapid transition to green energy should be people-centric and community-led

Synthesis Report of IPCC AR6 is a warning call: Grounded action needed to ensure social and ecological justice: ActionAid Association note: *** The Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report is a warning call for action on the quickly closing opportunity of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees centigrade. Unless fossil fuels are rapidly retired, the impacts of climate change already faced by vulnerable communities will become difficult to handle. The IPCC report also highlights that we have the renewable energy technology, policy tools, and financial capital required for a just transition; however, “both adaptation and mitigation financing would need to increase many-fold”. The loss and damage caused by heat waves, crop failures, and rising sea levels suffered by majorities of India’s working peoples are already significant and uncompensated. News reports tell us that due to heat, India already loses around 101 billion hours yearly. E