The PROBE report which came out this year contains a wealth of knowledge on the impoverished primary education scene in India. For your convenience, I have selected and typed up some eye-opening facts and statistics below.
In my opinion, it is must read for anyone interested in in childrens' education in India, and for every Asha volunteer. Based on extensive field surveys, the report also offers many insights as well.
enjoy - Sri (tenali@excite.com)
PROBE is the Public Report on Basic Education for India. It was supported by the Center for Development Economics (India) and published in 1999 by the Oxford University Press (http://www.oup.com).
"The State shall endeavor to provide within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsary education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years."
(Constitution of India, Directive Principles of State Policy, Article 45) (p.3)In 1997, the 83rd amendment was introduced into Parliment to establish basic education as a fundamental right guaranteed by the State. It has not yet passed, but there is reason to have hopes that it will be adopted in the future. (p.1)
PROBE relies on a survey carried out from September to December 1996, covering school facilities and a sample of 1376 households, in 234 randomly selected villages of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. The five states covered by the survey account for 40 percent of India's population and more than half of all out-of-school children [in India]. One of the striking findings emerging from the PROBE survey is the contrast between Himachal Pradesh and the other four states. In comparison with the other states, Himachal Pradesh has made remarkable progress towards universal elementary education. To avoid mixing apples and oranges, the survey data presented [from PROBE below] will exclude Himachal Pradesh, and should be understood to apply to the other four states. (p. 2)
Children aged 6-14 in the sample PROBE households. Male Female Total Enrolled in school 766 1,331 2097 Not enrolled in school 596 227 823 Total 1362 1558 2920 As the above figures show, about 70 percent of all children aged 6-14 in the sample households are currently enrolled in a school. This is an encouraging trend, considering that out-of-school children made up about three-fifths of the 5-14 age group in the PROBE states as recently as 1986-7 (Visasia, et. al., 1993). However, this trend hjas to be read in light of the fact that (1) 'nominal enrollment' is a common and possibly growing practice (see chapter 8 and Survey Methodology), and (2) even among genuinely-enrolled children, attendance rates and often low. (p.7)
Females 1.8 years Males 2.9 years
371 million (1991) (p.12)
Parents Attitude to Education (PROBE survey),
Is it important for a boy to be educated? 98% said yes
If yes, why?
- Improves employment and income opportunities. (87%)
- Improves social status. (29%)
- Improves confidence or self-esteem. (24%)
Is it important for a girl to be educated? 89% said yes
If yes, why?
- Helps to write letters and keep accounts. (50%)
- Improves employment and income opportunities. (40%)
- Improves marriage prospects. (35%)
(p.19)Should primary education be made compulsary for all children? 80% said yes
(p.14)
Estimates of Child Labor (All-India, Rural) percentage (%) of children aged 5-14 who are in the workforce- Census of India (1991)= 8.8%/10.0% (female/male) National Sample Survey= 7.8%/6.9% NCAER Survey= 3.5%/4.4% (p. 16)
Work Patterns of Out-of-School Children (PROBE survey) (p.16) Proportion who worked more than 8 hours on the day preceding the survey 22% (Male) 20% (Female) Proportion who performed wage labor on the day preceding the survey 1% 5% Average time of work on the day preceding the survey 5.1 4.2 Extra time of work, compared with children who are attending school 2.2 hours 2.1 hours
Average Cost of Sending a Child to School Primary level NSS estimate (1986-7) excluding cloting expenses= Rs. 212 PROBE estimate, 1996= Rs. 318 Elementary level NCAER estimate, 1994= 478 (p. 17) ***
If all the children aged 6-10 in the PROBE survey were in primary school, there would be, 113 pupils per pacca classroom 68 pupils per appointed teacher. (p. 40)
Proportion(%) of primary schools where the following facilities are unavailable or available but not functional, blackboard in every classroom= 26% playground= 52% drinking water= 59% toilet= 89% maps and charts= 59% teaching kit= 67% toys= 75% library= 77% musical instrument= 85% (p. 42)
1. Proportion (%) of headteachers who were
engaged in the following activities when the
PROBE investigators arrived,
Teaching activities= 25%
Absent= 33%
Other activities= 42%2. Activity patterns of teachers when the
PROBE investigators arrived (proportion of
schools in which the relevant activities
were observed, which are not mutuially
exclusive since teachers may be engaged in
different activities)
Teaching= 53%
Minding the class= 21%
Sitting/Standing outside the class= 11%
In the headteacher's room= 7%
Talking with other teachers= 18%
Other non-teaching activities= 23%