25% Schools Function Without Blackboard: Survey

Dear all,

It has always been support of media that helps in building awareness, coming out with different stories highlighting the facts and figures. Vedanta Khushi presenting you yet another story "25% Schools Function Without Blackboard".. reports M Ramya from TNN, Chennai.

25% Schools Function Without Blackboard: Survey

CHENNAI: While tablets and smart screens enter a few classrooms, nearly one-fourth of schools in India function without blackboards.

A sample survey titled 'Learning Blocks' conducted by non-governmental organizationChild Relief and You (CRY) has revealed that primary and upper primary schools in the country do not meet basic requirements expected in an educational institution. The study was conducted in 750 schools across 71 districts in 13 states, including Tamil Nadu,Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka, and three metro cities - Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. 

"School education is synonymous with the blackboard. Education without blackboards cannot be imagined," said Vijayalakshmi Arora, director, Policy, Research, Advocacy and Documentation wing of CRY. 

The study found more than 75% of schools lacked furniture and fixtures like tables, chairs and benches, and in 41% of schools, students were taught in open space. Experts said the reason for teaching outside the classroom could be attributed to poor condition of the classroom, nonavailability of teachers or inadequate number of classrooms. In the absence of a boundary wall, teaching outside the classroom could distract children and cause disturbance while teaching. 

The study also rates our schools poorly on hygiene. While 11% of schools don't have toilets, and of those available 34% are unusable, almost one of two schools doesn't have water near toilets. In the north, almost 70% of schools did not have water near toilets. And, half the schools do not have soap near toilets for children to wash their hands after using the toilet. Healthcare experts advocate hand-washing after using the toilet to ensure that children do not fall prey to diseases like diarrhoea. 

Another area of concern is that close to 80% of schools surveyed did not have cleaning staff to keep the toilets clean. The study also found that only 7% of schools with a large number of tribal children have cleaning staff. "Lack of cleaning staff in schools indicates that children are forced to study in unhygienic surroundings. It also means that children are asked to do the cleaning. Experience shows that these tasks get assigned on social group basis," CRY said. 

About 44% had no electricity, particularly in schools in the east where almost 74% schools did not have electricity. The CRY release said, "Availability of electricity in schools can open a completely new world of possibilities. Besides, ensuring well lit rooms and keeping children in comfort it can also provide computer aided learning and web-based learning." 

The study also found that three years after the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 came into force, schools across the country still did not meet the mandatory requirements. 

Shortfalls: 

— 11% schools don't have toilets 

— 49% have common toilets for staff and students 

— 20% don't have drinking water 

— 18% don't have a designated kitchen to prepare midday meals 

— 74% schools don't have a library 

— 60% don't have playgrounds 

— 66% demanded proof of previous studies and 46% asked for transfer certificate 

— 9% did not have school management committees, and in 53% of the schools they were not involved in monitoring use of grants 

— 21% of primary schools and 17% of upper primary schools reported involvement of teachers in activities other than teaching 

— 28% primary schools and 31% upper primary schools did not have principals 

Source Times of India : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/25-schools-function-without-blackboard-Survey/articleshow/21906707.cms