Looking back: Number of out of school children unchanged, says report

Survey says 8% of children have never been enrolled; 7% have dropped out

LAHORE:

The number of children out of school across the province did not decrease between 2014 and 2015, according to a survey by Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). The survey found that 15 per cent of children remained out of the education system.

The survey, taken in all 36 districts, covered 21,512 households in 1,079 villages. It collected information on 59,179 children. The survey was conducted for children between the ages of three and 16 years. Of these, 50,686 children were tested for language and arithmetic competencies.

According to the findings of the survey, 15 per cent of children were reported out-of-school. The survey report said 8 per cent had never been enrolled and 7 per cent had dropped out.

The survey found that of the remaining 85 per cent children, 65 per cent were enrolled at public schools, 35 per cent of children at private institutions. Boys outnumber girls at public schools with 60 per cent enrolment. In private schools, the student body comprised of 58 per cent boys and 42 per cent girls.

The ASER survey found that the rate of enrolment decreased compared to last year. The survey showed that 53 per cent of all school-aged children were enrolled in schools, compared to 55 per cent in 2014. As many as 47 per cent children between the age group of three to five years were not enrolled in any pre-school programme or a school.

The survey also looked at learning outcomes. The report said learning levels had improved. This year, 30 per cent of the students of grade three could not write a grade two story in Urdu compared to 37 per cent in 2014.

The ASER report said that 73 per cent students of class three could not read a story in Urdu, which was similar to 73 per cent in the previous year. The report said that 29 per cent students of class one could not read letters in Urdu compared to 31 per cent in 2014.



English language learning showed some improvement. Nearly 40 per cent students of class five could not read sentences of class two, compared to 43 per cent in the previous year.

Out of the surveyed children, 32 per cent children enrolled in class one could not read capital letters, as compared to 34 per cent in 2014.

The report said 41 per cent students of grade five could not perform two-digit division compared to 49 per cent in 2014.

Children enrolled in private schools were found to be performing better than those in public schools. The survey found that 76 per cent children enrolled in grade five of a private school were able to read a story in Urdu compared to 67 per cent of class five children enrolled in government schools.

English learning levels of private schools were also found to be better than in public schools. The survey found that 67 per cent of class five children in private schools could read sentences, whereas only 57 per cent children of government schools children could read the same.

Boys outperformed girls in literacy and numeracy skills.

Among the tested children, 56 per cent boys and 54 per cent girls could read sentences in Urdu. The survey found that 57 per cent boys could read words in English, while 55 per cent of girls could do the same. Similarly, 54 per cent boys were able to perform subtraction, whereas only 51 per cent girls could do the same exercise.

The survey found 28 per cent teachers at government schools had completed graduation, compared to the 37 per cent at private schools.

It showed that 80 per cent government high schools had computer labs and 85 per cent had libraries. In comparison, 26 per cent private high schools had computer labs and 53 per cent had libraries.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st,  2015.