Vikas Sharma
Despite a number of enrollment drives being run by the UT Administration, the net enrollment ratio continues to be lowest at both elementary and secondary level in government schools in J&K. This has been revealed in the School Quality Education Index (SEQI) 2019 report of the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.
The net enrollment ratio (NER) in the government schools at the elementary level has shown a decline. The NER was 68.9 per cent in 2015-16 and decreased to 67.3 per cent in 2016-17. Apart from J&K, Sikkim, Nagaland and Jharkhand have also registered a decrease of five per cent or more in their NER over the period. As far as the NER at the secondary level in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, it has not seen any improvement. In 2015-16, the NER at the secondary level was 55.7 per cent and in 2016-17, decreased to 47.1 per cent.
The decreasing enrolment ratio at both elementary and secondary level has exposed the claims of the successive governments in J&K about the increase in the enrolment in schools over the years.
Another cause for concern is the lack of computer-aided learning in schools in J&K at the elementary level. Apart from J&K, Bihar, Tripura, Jharkhand and Meghalaya have poor computer-aided learning at the elementary level. In 2015-16, only 3.5 per cent schools had computer-aided learning facility at the elementary level, which increased to 3.9 per cent in 2016-19. In 2016-17, only four states and UTs employed computer-aided learning in more than 50 per cent of their schools at the elementary level. Chandigarh and Lakshadweep have recorded the highest percentage of 76.7 per cent and 75.6 per cent computer-aided learning, respectively.
Further, only 38.3 per cent schools in J&K had the a computer laboratory facility in 2016-17, while only 10.8 per cent schools were covered under vocational education.
Cause for concern
- The net enrolment ratio (NER) in schools at the elementary level has shown a decline. The NER was 68.9 per cent in 2015-16 and decreased to 67.3 per cent in 2016-17.
- As far as the NER at the secondary level in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, it has not seen any improvement
About SEQI
It has been developed to provide insight and data-based feedback on the success of school education across the states and Union Territories. The index attempts to provide a platform for promoting evidence-based policy, making and highlighting possible course correction in the education sector(TNS)
