A recent Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) has uncovered significant gaps and alarming trends in the education system in rural Meghalaya, with a particular focus on dropout rates and the challenges faced by students, especially boys. The report, which was released on January 28, 2024, is the fourteenth to be released. The comprehensive survey, which included six districts, 3,465 households, and 7,252 children aged 3-16, highlights some critical issues that need immediate attention from policymakers and education stakeholders in the region.
Declining Early Childhood Enrollment in Meghalaya
One of the key findings is the decline in early childhood education enrollment in rural Meghalaya. While the national trend in India shows an increase in preschool enrollment, Meghalaya has seen a slight drop in coverage for children aged 3-5. The report reveals that 60% of children aged 3 in rural Meghalaya aren’t enrolled in any preschool, a significant rise from previous years. Meanwhile, the enrollment rate for 4-year-olds in private preschools remains high, outpacing government pre-primary education.
In contrast, the enrollment of 5-year-olds in Standard I (Std I) has decreased in the state, in line with national trends, with fewer “underage” children (aged below 6) entering formal schooling.
Private School Enrollment Recovers Post-Pandemic
In private school enrollment, there has been a recovery to pre-COVID levels. By 2024, 57.6% of children aged 6-14 in rural Meghalaya are now enrolled in private schools, a return to the numbers seen before the pandemic disrupted education. However, this figure had fallen to 53.2% in 2022, underscoring the impact of the pandemic on education. Despite this recovery, the percentage of children attending private schools in Meghalaya has consistently remained between 50% and 60% for over a decade.
Pandemic’s Lingering Impact on Learning Levels
The pandemic’s long-lasting impact on learning outcomes is evident from the ASER data. Both reading and arithmetic levels fluctuated over the past decade, with a significant dip observed between 2018 and 2022 due to school closures and disruptions. However, there has been a noticeable improvement from 2022 to 2024. While Meghalaya still lags behind the national average in arithmetic skills—especially in basic arithmetic among third-grade students—reading levels have recovered, especially for Standard V students. The percentage of Standard V children who could read fluently in 2024 (44.8%) is a marked improvement over the 38.5% recorded in 2022, indicating some recovery from the “learning loss” caused by the pandemic.
Increasing School Dropout Rates Among Boys
One of the most concerning findings in the report is the rise in school dropouts, particularly among boys in the 15-16 age group. The percentage of boys aged 15-16 who are out of school in rural Meghalaya has increased to 20%, one of the highest dropout rates across the country. This marks a significant jump from 14.3% in 2022, and while the dropout rate for girls in the same age group is lower at 8.8%, the gender disparity remains concerning.
Challenges in School Facilities and Teacher Attendance
The ASER report also points to improvements in school facilities in Meghalaya, including better access to mid-day meals, drinking water, and functional toilets. However, compared to the national average, school infrastructure in the state still lags, and teacher attendance rates have dropped from 92.7% in 2022 to 88.4% in 2024. Despite these challenges, student attendance has seen a positive increase from 74.4% in 2022 to 77.8% in 2024, indicating that more children are attending school, though there is still much to be done.
Private Schools Perform Better in Some Areas
While private school enrollment has continued to rise, ASER data suggests that government school children are making more significant learning gains, particularly in foundational literacy and numeracy.
Digital Access and Risks for Students
Interestingly, the report also touches on the role of smartphones in rural Meghalaya. While many households have access to smartphones, the report finds that children predominantly use them for social media and entertainment, with little awareness about digital safety or online scams.
A Call for Action
Khrawboklang Tangsong, the Senior ASER Associate for Meghalaya, emphasized the need for urgent action to address the rising dropout rates and learning gaps. “The enrollment in private and govt schools is back to the PRE-COVID. Government school-going children are performing better than those in private schools. The number of children not in school especially boys aged 15-16 is alarming. When it comes to smartphones, we see many households in rural Meghalaya have access, but, children use it mostly for social media, but still lack awareness to protect themselves, especially in this age where many online scams are happening through the internet,” he added.
Also Read: Primary education a luxury in Garo Hills, but Meghalaya govt thinks all is well
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