Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Feb 04: The latest Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)-2024 has pointed out a grim picture of the government schools in terms of the availability of the basic facilities for the children.
The survey findings have revealed that many schools still lack basic facilities of drinking water, computers, and proper toilets.
The report shows that these problems, along with fewer students enrolling in schools, are making it harder to provide quality education.
According to a ASER-2024 report accessed by news agency JKNS, the report shows gaps in school infrastructure, including the lack of drinking water facilities, functional computers for students, and proper sanitation, as well as a decline in student enrollment across primary and upper primary schools.
According to a report, a total of 84.8 percent of schools lacked functional computers for students in 2024 while 70.3% of schools still had no computers for students. The number of schools lacking computers was 71.6% in 2022. It has also revealed that 14.5% of schools have computers with no access to students.
Additionally, a total of 25.2% of schools lacked access to drinking water.
The ASER-2024 has revealed that 19.1% of schools still lacked a drinking water facility while 6.1% of schools have drinking water facility without availability of water.
The data shows that gaps remain in ensuring safe water access for all students.
The report also shows sanitation gaps persisting in schools with regard to toilets showing, a total of 44.3% of schools had inadequate toilet facilities and 26.2% lacked separate usable toilets for girls.
Schools with toilet facilities but not usable were found in 16.1% of schools while 1.9% schools were without toilet facility, raising concerns about hygiene conditions.
While, 26.2% of schools had no separate, usable toilets for girls, 6% of schools have separate toilets for girls but locked. As many as 10.2% of schools have separate unlocked toilets for girls but not usable, it reads.
Report further states that a total of 48.8% of primary and upper primary schools showed declining enrollment.
Nearly 92.8% of primary schools had a total enrollment of 60 or fewer students in 2024, up from 86.9% in 2022 and 88.7% in 2018.
For upper primary schools, nearly 44.0% had a total enrollment of 60 or fewer students in 2024, compared to 47.5% in 2022 and 46.1% in 2018. (JKNS)
