SHILLONG, Feb 3: School enrolment may have increased in Meghalaya but the reading habit among students in the rural areas remains poor, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 indicates.
The report says that while 73% of schools in the state have libraries, only 17.2% reported students using books on the day of the survey. In some schools, the books were simply not in use.
This raises concerns about how effectively libraries are being integrated into learning.
The report, conducted by Pratham, presents a mixed picture of education in rural Meghalaya. While foundational literacy levels are improving, major gaps remain in numeracy, digital literacy, and school infrastructure.
Even though most schools have libraries, students are not actively engaging with books. The low reading habit could be linked to a lack of structured reading programmes, limited access to age-appropriate materials, or a teaching approach that does not encourage independent reading.
Experts say if children do not develop a love for reading early, their overall learning suffers.
The report shows that while literacy levels among younger students are improving, numeracy remains a challenge. About 31.1% of third-grade students in government schools could read at a second-grade level, an improvement from previous years.
However, only 7.2% of third graders could divide, much lower than the national average of 27.8%. This highlights the need for better teaching methods in mathematics.
School dropout rates in Meghalaya are higher than the national average, especially among children aged 15-16. While nearly 95% of surveyed households own a smartphone, only about half the children know how to use it for educational purposes. This suggests that simply having access to technology does not automatically improve learning.
The report also sheds light on school facilities. About 92.6% of schools had kitchens for mid-day meals, ensuring children receive proper nutrition. However, only 62.3% had usable toilets, and nearly half of the schools lacked a separate toilet for girls, which could be a factor in dropout rates.
Drinking water facilities were another concern — 23.8% of schools had a water source that was not functional on the survey day, while 10.7% had no drinking water facility at all.
In terms of digital infrastructure, 96.7% of schools had no computers for student use. Without access to digital tools, students may struggle to develop essential 21st-century skills.
