‘Gnana Dhaara’ to improve standards in State schools

The battery of measures initiated by the Government to improve the standard of education in the State-run schools appears to have fallen short to yield the desired results as the recently-conducted National Achievement Survey (NAS-2017) and Annual Status of Education Report (ASER-2017) highlighted the declining trends in the academic performance of the students.

The surveys reflect the result of the latest Summative Assessment Test conducted in objective mode for students of classes 8 and 9. The NAS has revealed a declining trend in the performance of students of upper primary and secondary education, while the ASER has suggested that barely 59 % of the youth in Srikakulam district can do the basic mathematical divisions. Analysis of the result of the SA-I of class 9 students has revealed that 51 %, 47% and 25 % of the students have secured D1 and D2 grades in mathematics, science and English subjects respectively.

Rattled by the loopholes identified by the surveys, Commissioner of School Education K. Sandhya Rani has asked the Regional Joint Directors, School Education Officers, District Education Officers and District Project Officers to swing into action mode and implement effective schemes that can make a positive impact.

As part of the measures, Gnana Dhaara, a summer residential remedial teaching programme for low-performing students of classes 5 and 9 has been planned.

Two-phase programme

The programme will be implemented in two phases—summer residential programme and year-long learning enhancement programme.

“The focus will be on improving the learning levels of students of all Government and Government-aided private schools. Support will be provided through workbooks and teaching guidelines to private school managements too,” said Krishna District Education Officer M.V. Rajya Lakshmi.

English, Telugu, Mathematics and Science will be taught to all students from classes 1 to 10 and student-friendly workbooks would be designed and provided by the School Education Department. Subject teachers will deliver remediation-training to all the teachers through e-platform to improve the remedial pedagogy.

Remedial initiative

The Summer Residentail Remedial Programme will be implemented from May 1 to May 31.