Students' performance in Maths grim

Performance of students in Mathematics at primary level remains a major area of concern, says a survey.

Performance of students in Mathematics at primary level remains a major area of concern across the country, according to a recent survey.

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The survey conducted by an NGO, Pratham, in which students were tested on arithmetic, writing, reading and comprehension, showed that about 60 per cent of students at Standard I and II could recognise numbers or do more mathematics. At Standard 3 to 5, only 65 per cent of the students could do substraction.

The Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) 2006, which compiled the findings of the survey conducted across the country in 549 districts, said the performance of students was improving by only four to five per cent in the subject over the previous year's dismal figures.

The students did not fare well in reading also. Over 25 per cent of students in Standard I and II were unable to read alphabets, the report said.

The survey also covered the mothers of the children and found that over 52 per cent of the mothers had not been to school.

The overall enrolment ratio of children between the age group of 6-14 years was 94 per cent. Amongst girls in the age group of 11-14 years, many states have 10 to 20 per cent of girls out of school. In particular, the out of school rate in this age group of girls is 19 per cent in Rajasthan followed by Bihar (17 per cent).

Greater attention needs to be paid to factors like inadequate infrastructure, insensitive teachers and uninteresting curricula, it said.