96 school going is Awesome, only 20 can count is Awful

The theory that the media has the ability to slant the news and influence the public mindset is nothing new.  But is startling to see two divergent take on the same report on the same day.  It concerns an NGO study on the enrolment of children in schools and their reading, writing and arithmetic ability - the Annual Survey on Education Report in India.

While one national daily chose to lead with the really Awesome headline that ‘96 out of 100 children attend school’, another national daily went with the lead that ‘one out of two class 5 student will fail class 2 test’, which is really awful.  Both the articles point out the shameful fact that 1 out of 3 class One students cannot recognize the numbers 1 to 9.

But should we be worried?  The GoI is already on the job with an Indian version of ‘No Child Left Behind’ policy called the Right to Education Act.  The American Act allows the states to set their own achievement standards; quite understandable since the US is not a unitary structure (even though they call it so), but is federal.

India on the other hand is more unitary and hence the achievement standards have been set by the Union (Central) Government under the RTE.  We have also had a singular judgement passed on the basis of the Act - No Child should be left behind till 8th standard - that is, no student can be detained till he or she is at 8th standard.

• But if 1 out of 3 cannot count?

The Ministry of Finance has out-thought these useless surveys by abolishing all coins and numbers between 0 and 50 and 50 and 100 - did you not read my earlier post?  Seeing the numerals involved in 0, 50 and 100 are 4 zeroes and one 5 and one 1, they have learn only ZERO and the students would know 4 out of 6 numbers - pretty neat, is it not?
:-P

• How will those children pass the high school?

They will get to attend 8th standard and pass out too - because some states have a standing directive that not more than 1 out of 6 students can be detained in school exams;  Thus the other 4 will get through (I am not forgetting the 6th kid- he is the one who can read!).  So there!
:-D

• But if 1 out of 2 cannot read?

Why do you worry about that?  The Health Ministry just 3 days back asked the Medical Council of India not to enforce Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to Medical Colleges.  The council has been directed to enrol students based on the school pass out marks (where, if you care to remember, only 1 out of 6 can be failed).  Problem solved.
8-O

• But what about my health, in future?

What the hell are you worried about?  Or are you feeling so cocky that you ‘can’ read while some of those who pass out will not be able to read?  Are you trying to show off?
0:-)
Well read this prescription and tell me what they are!  What difference would it make if future professionals can’t read?  Neither can we, now!  ROFLMAO.

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