Some problems at primary and secondary education level

Alright. This is the first of the much anticipated flash-backs...if readers remember that we started this journey a little of the way into time instead of starting at the beginning. So, without much fanfare, let's get started.

A few teachers and headmasters and headmistresses have kindly accepted our invitation and participated in at least a few of our meetings. While they initially mentioned all the good things that were happening in their schools, when asked to list the problems, here is what they mentioned. (Please note that for the sake of their privacy and since we have not yet taken their permission, their names and schools are not being listed here.)

Source 1:

• Students are at different levels


• Non-uniformity of testing for levels


• Not enough staff


• Lack of regular teachers and trained teachers


• Drinking water is a problem


• Environment is not attractive enough


• Constant training for teachers is not being given

Source 2:

• It would help to have senior people volunteer once a month in a school


• Students need individual attention since they have pronunciation problems


• No extra-curricular activities


• Need teachers with good attitude to nurture children

Source 3:

• Students leave for private school but being unable to cope they return in 3^rd standard


• Bureaucracy and paperwork reduces the time available to teach


• Other responsibilities (like Election Duty) make teachers lose time for teaching students

Source 4:

• Students do not have any physical education/sports training


• Children already in labour market forcefully brought to school do not stay – they go back.


• Children dropout primarily because of parents (who sometimes move due to work availability)

Source 5:

• 40% of the schools in rural areas near Elamanchili have no buildings.


• In some rural areas, the surroundings of the school are used as public toilets making the schools unbearable to study or teach in.


• Only 1 DEO instead of the 4 that are supposed to exist.


• Need 40 MEOs (Mandal Education Officers) but only a few exist.


• Earlier schools had 150 students but now only 5 because the others are joining convents.


• Primarily, mathematics and science teachers are missing.


• Only 15 out of 100 or 30 out of 150 students are ok. Others are not up to the mark.


• Students in 10^th standard barely know how to read and write. Teachers call their parents and ask them for Rs. 500 each to pass the students.


• 6^th standard girl thinks that a 25 paise coin is 50 paise and cannot even write her name.


• Students are being promoted to 7^th because of attendance and not because of ability.


• Unable to read even the first page of 6^th standard text books.


• Introduction of CBSE syllabus (English medium) from 6^th has made even the teachers ineffective because they are from Telugu medium and have not been trained.