UEE (Universalisation of Elementary Education) essentially
means that children from the age group of 6 to 14
(from 1st standard to 8th standard) should be in
school in their appropriate age.
Current status explains the enrollment from 1st
standard to 4th standard (or age group of 6 to 10)
are nearly 97%. The problem is with the higher standards
i.e. between 5th and 8th (age group of 11 to 14),
where the enrollment is 92% -93% and 7% of children
from this age group are not in school yet.
Though it looks like a decent picture, there are
three problems with it.
One problem
is that in the northern states where the enrollment
picked up in the year 2001-2002 and mostly in
the last 3 to 4 years, the attendance in school
is very low (low as 50% to 60%) in the states
like Bihar. However in the southern states, universal
education was nearly achieved towards the turn
of the century. The attendance is also pretty
high. In states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil
Nadu and Kerala around 88% to 89% of children
attend the school on any given day.
Second problem
is again in the northern states, where large-scale
enrollment is recent but the problem is that,
about 12% to 15% of older children are actually
studying in lower standards (like 1st 2nd 3rd).
These children never went to school, which means
they can never complete eight years of education
(UEE). These students will probably go up to 4th
or 5th standard but not beyond that. There are
a sizeable proportion of children who are not
attending the lower standard, although they are
senior in age.
Third problem
is a biggest setback. So many children attend
the schools; they are learning little but learning
late. This is applicable in the northern as well
as southern states. 100% children studying in
6th or 7th standard can read about 2nd standard
text level.
By 5th only 50% children are learning or 55% children
can read the 2nd standard text.
The southern states are not doing very well in
terms of children learning to read early. If they
do not learn to read early, then the textbooks,
comprehensions, accessing knowledge on their own
is a big hurdle. For example, the knowledge of
Maths subject is very weak. Only about 43 children
can solve a division sum while understanding fractions
is another problem. The quality of learning in
government as well as in private schools, excluding
elite schools is extremely poor.
The ratio of girls and boys enrollment and attendance
are good. An independent study conducted by the
government proves that and we can also see that.
However in private schools, boys are 20% more
than girls giving a 60% - 40% difference.
