New Delhi: In the run up to assembly elections scheduled for later this year, the Bihar government might have been harping on about how many of the state’s socio-economic indicators have improved over the years. But it still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the performance of its schools nationally as well as at the district level, according to a report released by the Union Ministry of Education Wednesday.
The Performance Grading Index for 2022-23 and 2023-24 evaluated schools—government and private—at the state and district level across India.
Schools in 788 districts were assessed on six categories during 2023-24: learning outcomes (learning access, teacher availability), effective classroom transactions, infrastructure facilities & student entitlements, school safety & child protection, digital learning and governance process.
In Bihar’s case, the overall performance of schools showed a decline at the state level. At the district level too, it was nothing to sing about.
Schools across 14 of the state’s total 38 districts saw a decline in infrastructure facilities & student entitlements—one of the six categories used to assess schools that includes ramp and railings, library, sports equipment, availability of uniforms, science laboratory, among others—in 2023-24 as compared to the previous year.
Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Munger, Sheohar, Purba Champaran, Katihar were among the 14 districts that saw a drop in score within this category.
Another area where Bihar schools lag big time is digital learning, which includes availability of internet, access to computers/laptops and availability of computer-assisted teaching in schools.
The average score for all 38 Bihar districts in the digital learning category stands at 5.6 out of 50. Patna is the only district with a score of 10, highest among all 38. This was despite the overall average score in the digital learning category improving from the 2022-23 score of 4.5.
The grading scale in the ministry’s analysis for both states and districts was different. While the total score for states was 1,000, for districts it was 600.
The states were classified under 10 different grades, ranging from Daksh (competent) or grade 1 (states/UTs scoring between 91 percent and 100 percent), to Akanshi-3 (aspirational) or grade 10 (states/UTs scoring up to 10 percent). All other grades in between were separated by 10 percentage points.
At the state level, Bihar saw a slight decline in overall performance with a score of 472 out of 1,000 in 2023-24 as against 484.1 in 2022-23.
Based on the state grading scale, Bihar was classified under Akanshi-2 or grade 9 (scoring between 11 percent and 20 percent), which is the second lowest. There are nine other Indian states in this grade.
At the district level too, 10 different grades ranging from 1-10 were allocated. The highest score was grade 1 (districts scoring more than 90 percent of total points), also called Utkarsh (excellent) while the lowest score was grade 10 (districts scoring up to 10 percent) or Akanshi-3.
All 38 districts of Bihar were categorised under two grades—Prachesta-2 (endeavouring) or grade 6 (17 districts), and Prachesta-3 or grade 7 (21 districts) in 2023-24.
Nationally, none of the districts was allotted the highest or lowest level grades.
Of the total 788 districts that were evaluated, 355 (45 percent) scored grade 6 or Prachesta-2 (between 41 percent and 50 percent of total scores) in 2023-24.
Up to 281 districts (36 percent) scored grade 5 or Prachesta-1 (between 51 percent and 60 percent) and 110 got grade 7 or Prachesta-3 (between 31 percent and 40 percent).
Only 40 districts, nearly 5 percent, were given Uttam-3 (superior) or grade 4 (between 61 percent and 70 percent), and only one district, Longding in Arunachal Pradesh, got Akanshi-1 or grade 8 (below 30 percent). One other district was graded Uttam-2 or grade 3 (score between 71 percent and 80 percent).
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Silver lining
Schools in some Bihar districts did show some improvement in 2023-24 as compared to the previous year.
Five districts—Aurangabad, Purnia, Kishanganj, Madhepura and Araria—improved their overall grade to Prachesta-3 (grade-7) in 2023-24 from Akanshi-1 (grade-8) previously.
While 16 other districts continued to remain in the same grading scale of Prachesta-3 in both years, 17 districts moved up a grade to Prachesta-2 (grade 6).
In one of the six categories, government process, which assesses school leadership development, attendance monitoring system and funds convergence and utilisation, seven districts of Bihar improved their scores by 100 percent or more. These are Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Buxar, Paschim Champaran, Patna, Sheohar and Katihar.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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