DSEK mulling to introduce two versions of Mathematics

Srinagar: Education authorities are mulling to remodel Mathematics teaching or find an alternative to the subject at matriculation level in their attempt to stem dropout rate of girls in government schools, believing many quit because of the “tough” subject.

Worried about the dropout rate of girls, the School Education Department is considering a different approach to mathematics subject up to Class 10th.

An official said the department is of the opinion that the dropout in schools was mainly due to mathematics subject.

The move is being contemplated to control dropout rate, particularly of female students who quit studies at middle or high school level.

“Mathematics is considered to be a tough subject due to which the students prefer to leave studies because they are not able to qualify the exams in mathematics subject,” an official said.

He said the issue came into discussion in various meetings convened by School Education Department with J&K Board of School Education (BOSE).

“The process is not defined now because government is worried about the trend in school dropouts. The department wants to devise a mechanism to find an alternate to mathematics subject,” another official said.

Authorities were considering having two books of Mathematics – Standard and General – for students up to Class 10th.

“General mathematics will be a simplified version of mathematics and students who want to opt for Arts or Home Science at 10+2 level will be given an option to take general mathematics up to Class 10,” the official said, adding, those students aspiring for engineering or medicine will have to opt for standard mathematics.

The initiative is directed at controlling dropout rate at secondary and senior secondary level.

The 13th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), released earlier this month, stated that 12.5 percent of girls between the age group of 15 to 16 years in J&K were not enrolled in any of the government or private schools.

The School Education Department is already facing a challenge of bringing them into the school system.

Against the target of 27,355 out-of-school children (OSC) in 2017, only 600 have joined mainstream schools so far.

The guidelines of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) guidelines state that a child aged 6-14 years is considered out-of-school if never enrolled in an elementary school or if after enrollment has been absent without prior intimation for 45 days or more.

Secretary, School Education Department, Ajit Kumar Sahu said a committee has been constituted to examine the dropout rate in schools.

“The committee will examine who and why they (students) drop their studies. Committee will give feedback with suggestions to overcome the issue,” Sahu said, adding the department will consider changing the existing syllabus and provide additional support to students weak in Mathematics to prevent them from quitting.

“We will try to divert their energy and are supported with other vocational subjects,” Sahu said.

He said the government aims at promoting inclusive education so that every student should participate in exams up to Class 12th. “All required support will be given by the department to achieve the target,” he said.