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    Centre red flags school dropout rate, vacant seats in Bihar girls schools

    Synopsis

    ​​The PAB noted that the retention rate is low at secondary level at 40.18 %, the dropout rate at secondary level is more than 25% in as many as nine aspirational district and exceeds 35% in Muzaffurpur, Katihar and Khagaria districts.

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    New Delhi: While the Nitish Kumar government earned full marks in its previous avatars for its game-changing bicycle scheme for school-going girls, this election the state has some worrying school data to handle.

    In its August 2020 assessment of schooling—for the 2019-20 academic session-—the Centre has red flagged ‘low retention rate at the secondary level’, the ‘high dropout rate in aspirational districts’ and a significant decrease in proportion of students moving from elementary school to secondary school, especially the minorities and scheduled castes.

    In June 12 meeting of the Union education ministry’s Project Approval Board for ‘Samagra Shiksha’—the overarching umbrella for all schooling-related schemes and projects—the state was asked to “focus on difference between minorities and general category's transition rate from upper primary to secondary level; and difference between SCs and general category's transition rate from upper primary to secondary level”.

    The PAB noted that the retention rate is low at secondary level at 40.18 %, the dropout rate at secondary level is more than 25% in as many as nine aspirational district and exceeds 35% in Muzaffurpur, Katihar and Khagaria districts.

    In aspirational districts--transition rate from primary to upper primary is lowest in Katihar (57.98%) and Jamui at 63.25%. Even other districts Banka (80.75%), Begusarai (84.35%), Gaya (78.98%), Nawada when the forces were leaving (84.52%) and Purnia (87.19%) are below the national average of 89.72%.

    The Centre has also pointed out that the “elementary-to-secondary transition for Muslim children is only 52%.”. ln the four special focus districts (Kishangani, Purnia, Sitamarhi, West Champaran), this transition of minorities from elementary to secondary is less than 57%.

    The Centre has also asked Bihar government to ensure that all children of migrants are enrolled in schools. The girl student specific scheme – Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalyas- fully residential girls schools, also needs work.

    The PAB noted that out of total targeted enrollment of 62,600 in 584 fully residential Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, there are as many 8,055 seats lying vacant. Also, construction of 281 approved KGBV buildings is yet to start.

    There is in fact, considerable surrender of school infrastructure work in the state—work that is yet to start despite approval being given.

    Then there is the question of teachers.

    Only 29.2% secondary schools have a teacher for all core subjects. So, the Pupil Teacher Ratio stands at 351 for language, 570 for Mathematics, 715 for Science and 424 for Social Studies.

    While the state government has sought a salary increment for teachers, the Centre pointed out that there are 86555 and 16156 vacant posts of teachers in primary and secondary schools respectively. Posts of 4540 head teachers at Upper Primary and of 2680 head teachers in Secondary schools are also vacant.

    The PAB 2020-21 notes that “Huge vacancies at Head Teacher level is an area of concern” and has said that the state should prioritize filling up of vacant posts of head teachers at Upper Primary and Secondary level.

    The PAB approved central share of Rs. 382755.00 lakh for allocation to the state for the 2020-21 academic session.

    Bihar’s pending school work
    • Out of the 18,000 plus new primary schools approved, over 3100 are yet to see work start.
    • 220 of the 1100 plus approved secondary schools are yet to be spotted.
    • None of the 1457 additional classrooms approved for secondary schools in 2017-18 have taken off so far.
    • Not one of the 17 Science laboratories approved for senior schools in 2018-19, have seen work start.
    • Work has not started in any of the 157 libraries approved in 2017-18 to be constructed in secondary schools.
    • The ICT schemes for 1203 elementary schools hasn’t seen any work at all.
    • Of the 1653 ICT schools projects for senior schools- pending since 2005-06, only 1 has taken off.
    • Of the 38 vocational education schools approved since 2013-14, not one has been started.
    • While construction of toilets and drinking water facilities has shown reasonable progress, construction of libraries, art rooms and computer labs is lagging behind hugely.


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    ( Originally published on Sep 17, 2020 )
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