National survey depicts improvement in school facilities

Srinagar, Jan 30: In a significant development, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)-2024 has depicted improvement in the facilities in the schools over the past few years. The survey has depicted that the number of schools without library facilities has decreased from 41 percent in 2018 to 28 percent in 2024.

The survey has reported that the number of schools with libraries but students not using the books has increased from 32.3 percent in 2018 to 39 percent in 2024.

The survey has further revealed that the number of schools wherein library books are used by the children has increased from 26 percent in 2018 to 33 percent in 2024. national

As per the findings of the latest survey, the number of schools with electricity connection 31.2 has increased from  31.2 percent to 92.8 percent.

Similarly, the survey has pointed out that the schools with electricity connection with available electricity has increased from 58.7 in 2018 and 81.9 in 2024 respectively. The survey has depicted consistent increase in usable school services and facilities like mid-day meals, drinking water and usable toilets. “Other inputs and facilities in schools like electricity and libraries are also improving,” the ASER-2024 reads.

The national survey has depicted that there has been an improvement in basic school facilities like mid-day meals besides schools report receiving directives, training, and materials or funds related to strengthening Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) for early grades in primary school.

“More than 50 percent schools had three month school readiness programs for incoming class 1st primary students in government schools,” the survey reads.

The latest survey has further pointed out that since the launch of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, high priority has been placed on helping children in early grades in government schools to acquire foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills. “To strengthen the education system for delivering FLN skills to children, there has been focused inputs on teacher training and appropriate teaching-learning materials (TLM) for early grades,” it reads. (GK)