Approach:    

Introduction: We can introduce the answer by highlighting the ASER report.

Body 

Since the directives are to elaborate and suggest, we first shall elaborate on all issues plaguing Indian primary education system. This must be followed by suggesting measures to improve learning outcomes in India. 

Conclusion: Here we can conclude by stating the impact of primary education. 

Answer: 

Recently released Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 report shows that government schools saw a sharp rise in enrolment whereas basic literacy levels of children have taken a big hit (reading ability as compared to numeracy skills worsening sharply). This poses questions on quality of education in primary schools of India.  

Issues with Primary Educational Institutions – 

• Poor Learning Outcome: The learning levels w.r.t. foundational skills like reading, arithmetic and english is extremely poor in Indian schools.
• For instance, the performance of Std VIII in basic arithmetic i.e., the proportion of children who can do division stood at 44.7% in 2022. (ASER 2022)
• Infrastructure deficit: There is a serious issue with outdated buildings, one-room classrooms, the lack of drinking water facilities, separate bathrooms, and other educational infrastructure.
• For instance, the proportion of schools with drinking water available is only 76%. (ASER 2022)
• Quality of Teachers: Lack of teachers with the necessary qualifications, abilities, and knowledge to build a high-quality educational system. Additionally, poor pay and management of teaching cadres contributes to teacher shortages and underqualified teachers.
• For instance, teachers do not indulge in innovative teaching methods and rely on conventional methods only.
• Teacher Absenteeism: Teachers are frequently absent during class time. This issue is made worse by a lack of accountability and inadequate governance mechanisms.
• For instance, as per UNESCO report, 25% of teachers were absent from school and only about half were teaching, during unannounced visits to government primary schools.
• High drop-out rates: School dropout rates are relatively high, particularly for female students.
• For instance, around 4% (6-14 years) and around 8% (15-16 years) girls in Uttar Pradesh are not enrolled in schools.

Major Government Initiatives to Improve Basic Learning and Elementary Education 

Measures to Ensure Impactful Learning – 

• Maintaining Pre-requisite Infrastructure: A school should have basic amenities like a large classroom with furniture, clean, sanitary restrooms, clean drinking water etc.
• Quality of Teachers: Enhancing the quality of teachers by giving them proper training and providing them with contemporary teaching resources like smart classrooms and digital course materials.
• Extra-curricular Activities: A school should be involved in various co-curricular activities that serve as a key component in sustaining students’ interest in school.
• Proper implementation of a government initiative: Various government initiatives aimed at improving school learning but are ineffective due to poor implementation.
• For instance, according to ‘Right to Education’ (RTE), the pupil-teacher ratio should be 30:1 at the primary level and 35:1 at the secondary level. However, only few government schools follow these guidelines.
• Assessment and evaluation tools: Taking proper and summative assessments will provide a better understanding of the child.

The idea of lifelong learning will be ingrained in the school environment only by improving the quality of education. This will make students attend class, learn, and develop into productive citizens who can contribute to the development of the country.