The learning gap is frequently talked about with respect to education and its correlation with academic achievement, however, its impact does not end there. The negative consequences of the learning gap extend beyond a child's school years and have a significant impact on both the individual and society as a whole.
The learning gap is a snowballing issue that requires early intervention during a child's learning stage. If left unaddressed and unresolved, it can have long-term consequences that impact a child's entire career.
According to the NSSO Data, around 39% of rural kids have dropped out of school before 12th standard. This is quite prominent at primary and middle levels of education.
Children who struggle to keep up with their curriculum, may not develop the skills and knowledge they might need to succeed in higher education or even in their careers. The long-term effects of a learning gap for an individual are damaging and have a lasting impression on their personal and professional life. A few to mention are
Reduced confidence and self-esteem - Individuals who struggle with learning gaps may experience lower confidence and self-esteem, which can affect their ability to take on challenges and pursue goals beyond their limits.
Limited personal growth - Learning gaps can also limit an individual's personal growth and development, preventing them from acquiring new skills and knowledge, and failing them to reach their fullest potential.
Difficulty in accessing further education - A learning gap can make it difficult for individuals to pursue further education or training, limiting their opportunities for career advancement and personal growth.
P&G Shiksha along with its NGO partners are constantly working towards bridging the learning gaps in children through on-ground remedial learning interventions, and digital remedial learning advancement.
P&G Shiksha in partnership with Pratham Education Foundation
Through a community-based and an ‘in-school’ model, and with the support of trained volunteers and teachers at school, the team impacted over 30,000 children across 5 states and 1 Union Territory and observed a significant improvement in their learning levels. At the end of the intervention, more than 70% of students were able to read as per their expected learning levels compared to less than 25% at the beginning of the intervention.
‘Mindspark’, a computer-based adaptive learning tool to remediate learning gaps in students across government schools in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Telangana. The tool, Minspark, helps in minimizing this learning gap in children and brings their learning levels to par with their grades. Last year, the program impacted over 72,000 children across 8 states in the country, by enabling learning from the safety of home.
In today's rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever to have a strong foundation of knowledge and skills. Unfortunately, not all students have the same access to quality education, which can result in a learning gap. Let us pledge to take conscious efforts to eradicate its long-lasting impact.
