Siliguri, May 28: A recent survey by the Sarva Shiksha Mission (SSM) has revealed marked improvement in girls’ education in Khoribari and Phansidewa, the two “educationally backward blocks” of the subdivision.

“On comparing the most recent figures with those of five years ago, we see that the number of school-going girls has increased by over five times in the upper-primary level (Class VI-VIII) in the two educationally backward blocks,” said Samsur Alum, the gender coordinator, SSM, Siliguri educational district.

“It is significant that more girls than boys have enrolled in schools in the two blocks in both primary (I-V) and upper-primary levels at present. In 2003-04, the boys were higher in number,” Alum added. (See chart)

The Siliguri educational district comprises all the four blocks and the civic area of the subdivision.

The implementation of National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level had begun in the two blocks in 2005-06 after identifying them as educationally backward because of two reasons. The female literacy rates were lower than the national figure (46.58 per cent) and the gender-gap in literacy is higher than that of the national (21.70).

According to the 2001 census, the female literacy rate is 38.39 per cent and gender gap in literacy 25.12 per cent in Phansidewa and 42.46 per cent and 33.84 per cent in Khoribari, respectively.

“By the next census, which is three years away, we hope that these figures will completely change given the fact that the rate of growth of education of women in the 5-15 age-group has been phenomenal,” Alum said.

The national programme, which is part of the SSM, was framed to provide additional support to education of underprivileged/disadvantaged girls at elementary level.

A slew of measures under the national programme was taken to remove the bottlenecks in girls’ education. “On the lines of private tuition, we organise coaching for four months for girls at the upper-primary level from December every year. They also get free text books, a book grant of Rs 150 and sport material like badminton sets, carrom boards volley balls and chess boards besides musical instruments and sewing machines,” Alum said.

Extra-curricular activities like excursions to Sukna and Lataguri are also organised for the girls.

Ananya Roy, the district gender coordinator for community mobilisation in SSM, said organising training for the village-education committees and regular workshops were able to generate interest and create awareness on education among rural women.