Dip in Class V admissions hints SSA 'failure'

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 5: While the district education committee is trying hard to implement the national flagship programme ~ Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to achieve universal elementary education in Malda, education officials here are surprised with reports of poor enrollment in Class V in government-aided schools located in English Bazaar town.This report came to light at a meeting held on 28 April on the issue of ‘admission problem’ in Class V in 29 government aided schools in English Bazaar town. “While the total enrollment of Class V students were 3906 in 2003-04 in 29 high and junior high schools, the total enrollment was recorded 3996 in 2007-08”, Mr Chinmay Sarkar, district inspector of schools said.The Malda sub-divisional officer, the district inspector of schools, the district project officer, chairman of primary school council and other officials including a the heads of 29 institutions were present at the meeting to form a committee to resolve the admission crisis.However, teachers of some reputed schools claimed that “guardians do not face any crisis or problem regarding admission in Class V but they do face a problem in choosing a school for admission in this town”.Against the backdrop of decreasing number of students in Class V, Mr Sarkar raised questions on the necessity of funds allotted by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to the schools for building additional class rooms in upper primary sections.“We have allotted Rs 2.37 crore in the last five years to increase the ‘in take’ capacity in 29 schools but the rate of enrollment every year is decreasing.“Reputed schools like the AC Institution in Malda has received Rs 13.08 lakh from the SSA to increase the ‘in take capacity’ of students in last five years but the real picture shows that the number of students in Class V has gone down in the institution with thenumber of students dropping from 237 students in 2003-04 to 177 in 2007-08,” Mr Sarkar said.This shows that the administrative officials have failed to check ‘drop out’ rate among students in upper primary level in comparison with increased population in last five years.Mr Sarkar has planned to collect total number of enrollments in Class IV in private kindergarten including English medium and government primary schools in English Bazaar town to monitor the exact number of drop outs in the town.“Nearly 900 guardians collected admission forms this year. Finally the school authorities selected 305 students based on the results of admission test. But only 191 students were enrolled in Class V this year,” Mr Chanchal Jha said.Education officials said that while the rate of enrollment had decreased in certain schools, it had also increased in several schools out of the 29 schools.