Education X data

In India with over 1.5 million schools and 250 million students, the school education system is one of the largest in the world. With 84.71% of the 1.5 million schools in India being rural, remote, tribal schools, the limited quality of education and lack of access to educational resources continue to remain a huge challenge.

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In Uttarakhand, more than 65% of the state is geographically under forest cover. A host of populations ranging from Forest dwelling, Tribal, Rural, Pastoral Nomadic, STs/SCs inhabit these regions. There are schools categorized as - Forest, Tribal, Government schools, NRSTs et - to provision for elementary education for children. Rajaji Tiger Reserve and Corbett Reserve are the two national parks inhabiting wildlife and human populace in close vicinity.

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Bahadrabad block is part of the Aspirational district of Haridwar. The Block is host to the maximum number of core and buffer ranges of the Rajaji National Park and Tiger reserve. It is the biggest block under the aegis of Rajaji Tiger reserve comprising Pastoral nomadic, STs/SCs/OBCs, minority communities as more than 50% of total population. Out of every 10 children, 3 belong to the SC/ST community. 5 out of 10 children are living in ST villages. 88% of the total population is categorized as rural.

 

Bahadrabad falls in the bottom 6 of the total 95 blocks in Uttarakhand as per the National Achievement Survey 2021. As per the latest Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) 2024 data for Foundational stage Language is at 59% compared to national average of 64% and Mathematics is at 55% compared to national average of 60%.

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As per the Samanta community survey, across a sample size of 372 HHs, out of 1004 children in the age group of 3-18 more than 50% of children are out of school. The sex ratio (as per census) stands at 880 per 1000 females in Uttarakhand which is on the lower side compared to national estimates. The percentage of girls who are out of school is almost double that for boys. Only 7 girls have reached higher education among all the HHS surveyed as compared to 30 boys. Young role models engaged in a livelihood due to education are missing. Instead we have girls and boys who undergo early marriage and engage disguised employment through family linked livelihood.

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Out of the total HHs surveyed 20% have a person who has completed more than class VIII in the family. Only 18% of HHs have a person who is engaged in a job in an external facility like driver, dairy worker etc.

We at Samanta believe that the root of all the above-mentioned problems in the schools is lack of access and availability of learning experience in AWCs and schools.