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Telangana government schools losing out to private sector
The Annual Status Report on Education 2014 has thrown up distressing statistics for Telangana. Alarming rate of school drop-outs, shortage of staff, no takers for free intermediate education. Part of the reasons lie with lack of basic facilities.
Drop-out rate in TS schools alarming
The Annual Status Report on Education 2014 has shown Telangana in a poor light with 9.5 million illiterates or 40.42 %. Although, qualified and trained teachers are available in government schools, lack of basic facilities like drinking water and toilets are driving students to private schools. The drop-out rate, especially girls in government schools, has gone up due to lack of proper toilet facilities.
According to the report, more than 17000 schools in Telangana have running water facility, yet the enrolment percentage in government schools fell from 50.10 % during 2011 to 46.06 % during 2015, whereas there is a progressive rise in the enrolment in private schools from 49.90 % during 2011 to 53.94 % during 2015.
The Status report also reveals the colossal number of about 12,178 primary schools with less than 60 students. As per their student strength, the RTE Act allows these schools to get 2 teachers. It also reveals that despite offering Intermediate courses, it has not improved the situation. Against a sanctioned strength of 4,552 junior lecturer posts, there are only 1,375 lecturers.
This shortage of staff is defeating the purpose of providing free education at the Intermediate level. What is shocking is that out of the 130 government degree colleges in the State, 59 do not have NAAC accreditation. Every one of these was established after 2008 and yet none boasts of basic infrastructure and adequate staff.
Even the government degree colleges have not escaped the apathy. An astonishing 52 government degree colleges established after 2008 do not have their own buildings. They are forced to work out of temporary accommodations provided by nearby junior colleges, schools. Facilities like libraries, Labs and TSKCs are also not available in these colleges. Now, the State Government has allocated Rs 45 crore in the 2016-17 Budget for these colleges and Rs 2 crore for procuring lab equipment.
In the last decade of 2004-05 to 2014-15, technical institutions have mushroomed at an extraordinarily high-rate. Engineering institutions have grown by 138 % and intake by 289 %; B Pharmacy colleges by 457 % while the intake is around 1,043 %. The fee reimbursement scheme is the main driver of this rapid growth of the institutions.
The status report also recommends that schools with low enrolment may be merged with the nearest school of available strength. But certain schools cannot be technically merged. There are 770 schools with less than 100 students and in some cases there are no students with sufficient teachers and vice-versa.
The status paper also stated the government intentions to bring in a legislation making the gram panchayats responsible for cleanliness, water supply and plantation in government school premises. The education system should provide an environment conducive to higher studies right from pre-school level itself.