Page 20 - EducationWorld November 2020

Education News

DELHI in the informal sector as also casual
Digital learning myth labour, enrolment in free-of-charge

government schools has increased
from 62.8 to 66.4 percent. On the
other hand, the proportion of boys
and girls in rural private schools
has declined from 37.2 percent and
30 percent to 33.6 percent and 27
percent respectively. “Reasons may
include financial distress in house-
holds and/or permanent school
shutdowns among private schools,”
says ASER 2020.
Despite the conspicuous failure of
the much proclaimed online learn-
ing revolution, the Central and state
governments are dithering about
reopening schools. Great tragedies
by way of mass drop-outs, early
marriages and forced child labour
are being played out in millions of
households across the country.
Rural children in Bihar: only 7 percent receive learning material Autar Nehru (Delhi)
A of children had received any type School fees agitation
MAHARASHTRA
mid-term annual status of
Education Report (ASER
of learning materials from their
Wave 1) 2020 released by the
highly respected Pratham Education teachers during the week preceding
the survey. States where less than
Foundation on October 28 confirms a quarter of children received any rate parents and parents associa-
that a mere 30 percent of India’s learning material include Rajasthan tions in Maharashtra are protest-
260 million school-going children (21.5 percent), Uttar Pradesh (21 Iing the state government’s inaction
are receiving digital education since percent), and Bihar (7.7 percent). in reducing private school fees for the
education institutions countrywide According to Anil Kumar Roy, academic year 2020-21. On social
were closed in mid-March to check general secretary of the Bihar Samaj media platforms, they are slamming
the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Vigyan Academy and state coordina- the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi
And despite the national buzz about tor of the Bihar chapter of the RTE (MVA) government for ignoring their
smooth switchover to online learn- Forum, even basic textbooks have demand for an ordinance decreeing 50
ing, a mere 11 percent of children in not reached the vast majority of chil- percent reduction in tuition fees and
government and private schools are dren in Bihar to enable them to study cancellation of all overhead charges
routinely learning online, says the at home. “The JDU/NDA govern- for the academic year 2020-21. On
mid-term ASER survey. The only ment deposited Rs.150-300 into the the other hand, private school man-
saving grace is that an additional bank accounts of parents of children agements believe that parents should
21.5 percent are learning through in government schools. But as book- pay higher fees for the uninterrupted
video and recorded media. shops didn’t open, the money was online education they have been pro-
ASER 2020 is the first ever tele- spent by poor households for other viding since the Central government
phonic survey conducted by Pratham necessities. Claims of widespread announced closure of all schools and
Education. A total 52,227 households online education are false with the education institutions in mid-March
and 59,251 children in the age group children of dalits and mahadalits following the outbreak of Covid-19.
5-16 years, as well as teachers or totally deprived of any education for Bowing to parental pressure, three
head teachers from 8,963 schools, over six months,” says Roy. months ago (May 8) the state gov-
were interviewed to systematically With the prolonged pandemic ernment issued a GR (government
examine the impact of the pandemic lockdown of industry and business resolution) directing private schools
on schooling and learning of children rendering an estimated 4 million un- to refrain from raising fees for the
across the country. Moreover ac- employed, and devastating the liveli- current academic year (2020-21) and
cording to the report, only one-third hoods of millions of self-employed permitting parents to pay in instal-

20 EDUCATIONWORLD NOVEMBER 2020