Bhubaneswar; When the Odisha government is dreaming big on making the State emerge as a sports hub of the country, ASER report has brought to fore the gaping holes at the grassroot level.
In the 2024-25 budget, the State government has earmarked Rs 1315cr for bringing up world class sports facilities iacross the state.
The government in the budget has envisaged the following.
- Rs 952 cr for new world class stadium in State capital Bhubaneswar
- Bringing up world class sports academies in 4 zones across the states.
- Funds to boost mini stadiums at district-level, setting up sports academies at the same level
While the grandiose focus for making Odisha a sports hub seem right, but the very grassroots – the schools – that groom a child’s affinity for sports were found woefully wanting in the State, as per the ASER 2024 report.
GAME ON GAME!
As per the Annual Status of Elementary Education (ASER) report 2024, only 39% of schools have playgrounds.
On the contrary, the national average stood at a whopping 68.9%. Among the 29 states in the country, Odisha sits at the bottom.
Moreover, a look at the table above shows that in Odisha the proportion of schools with playgrounds have shrunken over the years.
When 44% schools were having playgrounds in year 2010, the number in 2024 has come down to 39%.
ODISHA GOVT AFFIDAVIT
The Orrisa High Court had suo moto taken up the poor facilities in Odisha schools in the year 2015. The State government then filed an affidavit at the HC stating that only 21% government elementary schools have playgrounds.
As per the affidavit, out of 53,455 government elementary schools, 42,400 lack playground.
In year 2022, the Amicus Curiae filed a report to the high court after sample visit of some schools.
The Amicus Curiae sample spot visit found non-availability of playgrounds in the State schools, and at some places the open spaces are covered with bushes rendering it unfit to be called a playground.
Despite Orissa HC expressing strong dissatisfaction over the state of affairs in State government schools, the ASER reports measures little progress.
The Orissa HC had also then framed certain issues. (See the image below)
However, ASER 2024 has measured the failings on the same issues.
As per the ASER report, on the important indicator of Pupil to Teacher Ratio (PTR), the State measures a decline in the indicator
- 2010 – Only 22.5% schools in the State adhere to the PTR norms.
- 2018 – After 8 years, a significant jump was noticed as 56% schools have PTR norms
- 2022 – witnessed a drop, as only 52.2% schools could adhere to PTR norms
- 2024 – the number of schools stood at 53.2%
- On the contrary, the national average stood at 63.5% in 2024 from 38.9%
- The main reason for the drop in PTR is not due to opening of new schools, rather was attributed non-filling of teacher vacancies over the years.
