By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A study conducted for Meghalaya by the Annual Status of Education report (ASER), 2012 revealed that very less percentage school grants reached the schools in the last financial year in Meghalaya.
The study which was conducted in seven districts of the state covering 30 villages and 600 households stated that during the financial year 2011-12, only 57.6 percent schools in Meghalaya received School Development Grant (SDG), 33.1 percent received School Maintenance Grant (SMG) and 72 percent schools received Teaching Learning Materials (TLM).
Meanwhile, during the half financial year 2012-13, 35.7 percent schools in Meghalaya received SDG, 19.4 percent received SMG and 48.7 percent schools received TLM.
The report also revealed that nearly two- third schools in Meghalaya are small schools with enrolment of less than 60 children with 74.3 percent to only 32.1 percent of the all India average.
It was found out that about 24.4 percent of the schools in the state have no toilet facilities, 47.7 percent schools have no separate toilets for girls, 70.3 percent provides no mid-day meal, 58.5 percent has no teaching learning materials and 75.2 percent schools have no library.
“The functioning and facilities in government schools are relatively poor as compared to India average and regular assessment and accountability is required to bring changes in learning outcomes and functioning of schools”, Khrawborlang Tangsong, ASER associate incharge of Meghalaya said.
Further, the findings stated that that government schools in Meghalaya have attendance just above India average with 73.1 percent as compared to 71.3 percent of the national level and the percentage of teachers attending school is 86.8 percent compared to 85.2 percent of the national average. However, attention is needed to ensure improvement in children’s and teacher’s attendance, said Tangsong said.
Raising a question, on the organization of teaching-learning and grouping of children, ASER coordinator for north east, Ashoke Mutum asked “Have the organisation done as effectively as possible in small schools?” adding that this is a grave concern for the government as well as the school managing committee.
“If children do not make satisfactory progress in primary grades, then their learning outcomes will be not be good at the secondary level”, Mutum added.
Calling upon the government, the society, local dorbar shnong and other stakeholders to cooperate, Tangsong said this year, they are planning to touch some parts of RTE that is to prepare a school development plan to facilitate capacity building for the members of school managing committee.
