Dimapur, Oct. 23 (EMN): A four-day Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) survey training programme got underway on October 23 on the theme ‘Beyond Basics,’ focusing on the age group between 14-18 years at Department of Education, Nagaland University, Kohima campus. The training programme was inaugurated by Pro Vice Chancellor, NU, Kohima campus, Prof. RC Gupta.
ASER Survey 2017, in partnership with Nagaland University, Department of Education, Kohima campus, will focus on older children (in the age group 14-18).The survey is spearheaded by Pratham, one of the largest NGOs working in the field of education in India. For the past several years ASER centres have been carrying out surveys to generate outcome based annual reports on education with a focus on learning outcome and not just schooling inputs and provisions. ASER 2017 will use the tried and tested ASER methodology (sample based household survey, local participation, simple tools) to explore a wider set of domains with an older age group – those just beyond the elementary school age.
Pro-Vice Chancellor, NU, Prof. RC Gupta, speaking at the programme, lauded the Department of Education for organising the important and path breaking training programme.
Describing education as the backbone of the country, Prof. Gupta said education is a relationship between a child and teacher. He added that when a teacher, child, book and pen come together, everything can be changed as desired. Stating that a nation cannot be destroyed when the education system is correct, he, therefore, said education system should be moved in the right direction. He said the teacher’s duty is to mould a child in the right direction.
Prof. Gupta stressed that university has an important role to play to mould and recognise maximum utilisation of the student’s talents. He said at the university level it becomes a refinery stage where the child can exhibit their potentials and excel in all fields.
He also stressed on the importance of conducting survey as 22% of the children are dropout at this stage, while the percentage of women dropouts are more. He added that the survey of the age group 14-18 will provide further feedback to the existing education system and how to improve and bring about changes. He wished the ASER team and participants a very interesting session ahead.
Director of ASER Centre, Delhi, Dr. SumanBhattacharjee, briefing the participants on ASER Survey 2017, said the four-day training will be a good learning opportunity for the students and research scholars. She said that ASER works in collaboration with reputed universities and colleges in every state for the survey.
She stated that survey is done all over India and go to around 500 rural areas in a year. She also expressed her appreciation to have partnered and involved Nagaland University, Department of Education, for the 2017 survey in Nagaland.
Stressing on the importance of having local partners, Dr. Bhattacharjee said ASER Centre is a small organisation based in Delhi and it would be difficult to reach out to every part of the country. The involvement of reputed local partners becomes very important for conducting and collecting accurate data, she added. Together with the involvement of locals, universities and civil societies, students can act and resolve the issues and problem faced by the children, she pointed.
Dr. Bhattacharjee said during the four day training, ASER team will train them on the survey, tools, formats and methods in the classroom and in field work. She expressed hope that the students and research scholars will learn from the training, and also during field survey about the problems faced by our children in school and colleges and help in bringing about solution.
After collection of data and analysing the survey findings, workshop will be conducted next year and the team will deliberate on the findings and how to go about in the near future, she informed. Dr. Suman also pointed that ASER’s main focus is not only on research but more on the outcome and changes it will bring about.
The programme was chaired by survey coordinator, Department of Education, NU, Narola Chuba, while Head of Department of Education, NU, delivered the welcome address. Students and research scholars of Education Department are participating in the four day long training programme.
