Par panel expresses concerns at poor learning standards

Expressing concern at the poor standards of learning, a Parliamentary panel has asked the Centre to undertake initiatives for states to ensure that school children learn well.
In a report tabled today, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development on the implementation of
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid-Day Meal scheme said while the enrolment picture continues to improve, on the learning front, the story is far from satisfactory.
"In Arithmetic, only a little over half of all children involved in Standard V could do a two-digit subtraction problem with borrowing," the report said.
The committee recommended that Centre should undertake initiatives for all states and focus on ensuring that children learn well. It said the states should also resort to their own measures in a time-bound manner to understand the level of students in terms of learning and the means to determine improvement in basic learning.

The panel found it disheartening that inspite of planned efforts, regional disparities in education continue to be "glaring" and sought time-bound programmes to minimise the gaps.
The committee also recommended that discrepancies - such as entry norm of six years in some states and five in others - between national and state systems should be removed.