India – Quality of Education

Namrata PadhiMaxwell School, Syracuse

University

India - Background

• Population: 1.21 billion

• Annual growth rate: 1.1%

• Public Spending on Education (% GDP): ~3%

• Adult Literacy Rate: 63%

• Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate: Male: 88% , Female: 74%

• Highest literacy rate in Kerala: 90.86%

• Lowest literacy rate in Bihar: 47%

MDG: Education For All – Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Largest elementary education program Access to primary education: Over 98% 96 girls for every 100 boys in primary school Increase in enrollment of children from long-deprived and marginalized communities in public schools

Transition rates from primary to upper primary school rose from 75% in 2002 to 83% in 2009.

The Challenge – Quality of Education

OECD: Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) Learning levels measured to be alarmingly low: Average 15-year-old Indian is over 200 points behind the global topper

Himachal Pradesh:“In Himachal, 11% of students are estimated to have a proficiency in reading literacy that is at or above the baseline level needed to participate effectively and productively in life. It follows that 89% of students in Himachal are estimated to be below that baseline level.”

USAID:Student learning levels continue to be low across most schools in the country, leading to large numbers of children dropping out of school.

Current Programs

USAIDTechnology Tools for Teaching and Training (T4)- Program implemented by Education Development Center (EDC) - Quality of primary education improved through use of cutting edge

technology tools such as interactive radio, video, and computer applications

- Easier for instructors and students to teach and learn difficult concepts in math, science, and English

World Bank:Learning for All:- Quality is focus of education investments, with learning gains as a key

metric of quality

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan:- World Bank support to improve quality of elementary education

Recommendations

• Teacher Training:Increase the number of trained teachers in primary school

• Textbook recreation: Develop and introduce textbooks based on minimum levels of learning (MLLs). Stress on importance of availability of textbooks in major tribal languages

• Improved classroom practices: Encourage teachers to make classrooms less intimidating and more sensitive to needs of female and minority children

References

• http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTEDUCATION/0,,contentMDK:21911176~menuPK:5495844~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:282386,00.html

• http://www.nlm.nic.in/literacy01.htm • http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ENR.SECO.FM.ZS • http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ENR.PRIM.FM.ZS • http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/PROJECTS/0,,

contentMDK:22504167~menuPK:64282137~pagePK:41367~piPK:279616~theSitePK:40941,00.html

• http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTEDUCATION/0,,contentMDK:21911230~menuPK:5495844~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:282386~isCURL:Y,00.html

• OECD (2010), PISA 2009 Results: What Students Know and Can Do – Student Performance in Reading, Mathematics and Science(Volume I) http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264091450-en

• http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/ESSU/Education_Strategy_4_12_2011.pdf

• http://www.usaid.gov/in/our_work/health/education.html