Elementary education still eluding many children

New Delhi, Jan 10 (UNI) As many as 25 per cent children who were ten years old would not complete elementary education this year, says the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2006 and 2005.

One of the goals of SSA is that children complete eight years of schooling. ASER 2006 records that 13.5 per cent of 14 year old children are not in school and an additional 14.4 per cent of those that are in school are studying in sixth standard or lower, when free and compulsory education was made fundamental for children in the age group of six to 14 years of age.

Overall enrollment is unchanged since last year. There is, however, a perceptible shift towards private schools especially in Punjab, Haryana and Karnataka, says the Report.

Enrollment remains steady at 93.2 per cent for the six to 14 year age group as against 93.5 last year. No change was discernible at the national level.

In the 11-14 year age group, national enrollment stands at 91.1 per cent. In most states except Rajasthan, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh enrollment is above 90 per cent.

Amongst girls in the seven to ten year age group, more than 95 per cent girls are enrolled in school in most states except Rajasthan, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand.

However, in the 11-14 year age group, many states have ten per cent-20 per cent girls out of school. In particular, Rajasthan at 19.6 per cent out of school girls and Bihar at 17.6 per cent stand out.

In the 15-16 year age group, national enrollment stands at 78.7 per cent. However, 24.7 per cent of the 15-16 year olds who go to school are still enrolled in eighth standard or lower and are still in the process of trying to complete elementary schooling.

The Report also says that at an all India level, a gain is recorded in the proportion of children who can read alphabets in the first and second standard. The number of such children is up from 70.3 per cent last year to 74.5 per cent in 2006.

However, there is no change discernible in the percentage of children who can read either at Level one or Level two. Compared to 67.4 per cent children in the third to fifth standard being able to read in 2005, only 66.2 per cent children can do so in 2006. is recorded to be 66.2 per cent.

UNI