Why in news?
PEW Research Centre in New York, a think-tank focusing on public issues released a research study with findings of a comparison of schooling standards in over 90 countries.
What does the study highlight?
- The study uses parameters prescribed by the UNESCO for assessing schooling standards, and number of years of schooling as the proxy for education accomplishment.
- It does not take into account the quality of education on offer.
- It focuses on “educational attainment” among the major religions of the world.
- It concludes that Hindus have the “lowest” level of “educational attainment” in the world.
- The “Christian” average is 9.3 years of schooling and “Buddhists”have 7.9 years.
- Muslims and Hindus of the world undergo 5.6 years of schooling against the global average of 7.7 years.
- It also points out that the Indian school educational system is at the bottom of the international league, along with Sub-Saharan Africa.
What similar studies highlights?
- PISA is the measurement standard adopted in Europe and utilised in a large number of countries.
- It also studied Indian school quality in two states.
- India ranked second last among 110 countries beating only Kyrgyzstan.
- India pulled out of the PISA study, thereafter.
- The Annual Status of Education Report conducted by Pratham, an Indian NGO, had assessed in 2014 that 75% of all children in Class III, over 50% in Class V and over 25% in Class VIII could not read texts meant for Class II.
- Reading levels for all children enrolled in government schools in Class V showed a decline between 2010 and 2012.
- National Survey Sample results in 2015 indicated sharp decline in learning outcomes in mathematics, science and English in the secondary schools.
- A recent study in Delhi has come out with the finding that only 54% of the city’s children can read something.
Where does the main problem lie?
- There is ample evidence that the Indian child is as good a learner as any in the world.
- Indian Americans are among the highly educated communities in the US.
- It is just sheer lack of basic opportunity that has kept the Indian child at very low education standards.
- The main problem is the abysmal quality of governance, with politics permeating every aspect of educational administration.
- Factors other than merit play a significant part in the management of affairs.
- Proper governance standards, with adequate incentives, and checks and balances, have not been put in place.
- The focus of the entire structure at the Centre and the states is on the minister, secretary, and the educational regulatory institutions.
- It is not focussed on the student, teacher, principal and school.
- The system is not “inclusive” and does not give a second chance to the weaker sections.
- The fundamentals of teacher management, teacher education and training as well as school governance and management are lacking at every step.
- The curriculum is rote-oriented and little practical thought has been given to pedagogy at any stage.
Source: Indian Express
