Srinagar, Jun 23 (KNO): Alarm bells are ringing for 'middle-stage students' of Jammu and Kashmir as the scores place it among the ‘lowest-performing regions’.
While the official documents reveal that the national averages already paint a concerning picture of systemic issues, the Union Territory’s consistent struggle to lift student performance from the foundational years through middle school suggests that current strategies are failing to halt a downward trajectory.
The official documents available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reveal that there are notable differences in performance across States and UTs.
“When compared with the Foundational and Preparatory Stage results, a few States, such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, have consistently ranked among the better performers, suggesting strong systems and the ability to maintain learning levels over time,” it reads.
It also said, “On the other hand, States like Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Jammu and Kashmir have remained in the lower group across all stages, pointing to challenges that need sustained, long-term attention.”
The documents further said these patterns are consistent with the findings from the foundational and middle stages.
It also said that states that perform strongly in the early grades tend to maintain their advantage in later years, while those with weaker outcomes at the start continue to struggle as students’ progress.
“The national averages are also a cause for concern, pointing to systemic challenges that extend beyond the lowest-performing states,” it reads.
In the previous week, KNO reported that Jammu and Kashmir ranks near the bottom of the ‘high-burden’ secondary school dropout list, recording a dropout rate significantly lower than most of the states in its category.
The official documents in this regard reveal that Jammu and Kashmir had a dropout rate of 12.9 percent at secondary level.
“High rates are further observed in Telangana with 13.2 percent, Jammu & Kashmir with 12.9 percent, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu at 12.5 percent each, and Nagaland with 12.1 percent. Maharashtra 11.5 percent, Sikkim with 11.4 percent, and Tripura at 11.3 percent mark the lower end of this high-burden group,” it reads—(KNO)