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written instructions in Hindi. However, some educationists in
Perhaps even more alarming is the state believe that public educa-
that 66.55 percent find it difficult to tion — especially primary-secondary
calculate discounts and 93 percent education — is likely to receive
are unable to calculate repayment greater attention under the new BJP
instalments. And only 2 percent of government which was re-elected to
teens in this age group are enrolled office for a third consecutive term.
in vocational training programs. The The 2023-24 budget of the state
outcomes are stark and grim for the has allocated Rs.35,230 crore — a 12
employability of the state’s youth, percent increase over 2022-23 — to
most of whom are condemned at best education. “Government initiatives
to live lives as quasi-literate unskilled such as Ladli Laxmi Yojna and Sam-
migrant workers who drift to south- bal Yojana for educating girl children
ern Indian states to work in low-end and infrastructure development
jobs in the construction and informal have great potential. Quite clearly,
industries. the state’s budget for educating 20
ome monitors of Madhya million children and youth needs
SPradesh’s depressing education to be increased. The community/
scene attribute these dismal stats to stakeholders’ involvement is crucial
the shortage of well-trained teach- for effective strategic implementa-
ers. A report of the PRS India and tion through policy advocacy, public
Accountability Initiative (2023) awareness, and establishing private-
estimates 80,000 teacher vacancies sector partnerships,” says Dr. 86.55 percent of girl children, ac-
statewide, resulting in multi-grade Shubhangi Mhaske, professor of cessing social media in the reference
classrooms and inadequate student microbiology at the People’s Col- week. Moreover, 57.15 percent of 14-
mentorship. In-school teachers lege of Dental Sciences & Research, 18 years-olds use cell phones for edu-
complain of low salaries, heavy Bhopal. cational purposes including videos
workloads, and limited training and The prime cause of the education- related to academic studies, resolv-
development opportunities, affecting al backwardness of Madhya Pradesh ing doubts, or exchanging notes.
their morale and effectiveness. (pop.87 million) — India’s largest With the formal public education
Access to quality higher educa- state (308,000 sq. km) — is the poor system having failed — and con-
tion institutions remains uneven, condition of public education. In the tinuing to fail — Madhya Pradesh’s
particularly in rural areas, exacerbat- state’s fast-growth cities particu- youth, there’s a glimmer of hope that
ing regional disparities. “The dismal larly Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur, children and youth are self-learning
state of education in MP is rooted in high-quality, globally benchmarked using new media and technologies.
inadequate infrastructure, teacher private schools such as Sanskar Aditi Maheshwari (Bhopal)
shortages, low enrolment, socio-eco- Valley, Bhopal, Emerald Heights In-
nomic challenges, and limited access ternational, Indore and Daly College, WEST BENGAL
to education,” says Dr. Shobha Indore — all top-ranked countrywide
Shrivastav, ombudsman of M.P. in the EducationWorld India School Losing battle
Bhoj Open University. Rankings 2023-24 — cater to the
According to Shrivastav, teacher children of a rising and fast-expand- head of the forthcoming lok
training, curriculum updates, and ing middle class. Indeed because of Sabha polls scheduled for
robust monitoring and evaluation high quality education available to AApril-May, Chandrima Bhat-
mechanisms for reforms mandated citizens, Indore has repeatedly been tacharya, minister of state (indepen-
by NEP 2020 are necessary. “Gov- voted India’s most well-managed dent charge) for finance, tabled a
ernment can increase the educa- city. Rs.3.66 lakh crore budget on February
tion budget by reallocating funds Commendably, liberal policies 8, announcing a slew of social welfare
from other sectors, seeking external towards promotion and manage- policies including sops for women and
funding, promoting public-private ment of private schools and rise of children.
partnerships, and implementing tax a prosperous urban middle class is While continuing with existing wel-
reforms to generate additional rev- having in trickle-down effect in rural fare schemes such as the Kanya Shree
enue. But it accords very low priority Madhya Pradesh. ASER 2023 reports and Sabuj Sathi schemes for girl chil-
to education and human resource high Smartphone penetration, with dren, the Trinamool Congress govern-
development.” 91.25 percent of youth, including ment — now in its third consecutive

MARCH 2024 EDUCATIONWORLD 27