Drop-out rate in TS schools alarming

The Annual Status Report on Education 2014 revealed that Telangana State has 40.42 percent or 9.5 million illiterates. Although, government schools have gone in for trained teachers a lack of facilities like drinking water and toilets are compelling parents to send their wards to private schools. The drop-out rate in government schools, particularly girls, due to lack of proper toilet facilities has gone up.

According to a status report on primary and higher education, more than 17000 schools in Telangana have running water facility for the students. The enrollment percentage in government schools decreased from 50.10 per cent during 2011 to 46.06 per cent during 2015, whereas there is a progressive increase in the enrollment in private schools from 49.90 per cent during 2011 to 53.94 per cent during 2015.

The Status report also reveals that there are about 12,178 primary schools with less than 60 students. As per the strength, these schools are eligible to get two teachers as per RTE Act. It also reveals that despite offering Intermediate courses, the situation is no better. Against a sanctioned strength of 4,552 junior lecturer posts, there are only 1,375 lecturers.

This lack of staff is defeating the purpose of providing free education at the Intermediate level. The startling fact is that out of the 130 government degree colleges in the State, 59 do not have NAAC accreditation; each was established after 2008 and none boasts of basic infrastructure and adequate staff.

As many as 52 government degree colleges established after 2008 do not have own buildings. They are functioning in temporary accommodation provided in nearby junior colleges, schools. Labs, libraries and TSKCs are not available in these colleges as per norms. Now, the State Government has allocated Rs45 crore in the 2016-17 Budget for these colleges and Rs two crore for procuring lab equipment.

The action plan is devised to improve the functioning of polytechnic colleges in the State, which entails conducting a market survey and accordingly introduce new courses. Focus from the first year will be on providing life, entrepreneurial and development skills.

In the last decade of 2004-05 to 2014-15, the emergence of technical institutions has been of an extraordinarily high-rate. Engineering institutions have grown by 138 percent and intake by 289 percent; B Pharmacy colleges by 457 percent while the intake is around 1,043 percent.

MBA colleges have grown by 300 percent and MCA colleges by 218 per cent. The main reason for the rapid growth of the institutions is the announcement of fee reimbursement scheme.

It is also suggested certain reforms. In case schools with low enrolment can be merged with the nearest school of available strength. But certain schools cannot be merged. There are 770 schools with less than 100 students and in some cases there are zero students with sufficient teachers and vice-versa.

The status paper also stated that the government is planning to bring in legislation making the gram panchayats responsible for cleanliness, water supply and plantation in the premises of government schools. The education system should encourage the students to go for higher studies from pre-school level itself.