<–2/”>a >Despite national commitments through a host of constitutional provisions as well as programmes to fulfill them, of inequalities of different kinds continue to persist in all aspects of social life including Education. The benefits extended by the government, from time to time often do not reach a larger majority of Indians who mostly constitute Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Girls,Minorities, Children with Special needs and Other Backward Classes (OBC)
After independence, the Government of India has taken number of steps to strengthen the educational base of the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Pursuant to the National Policy on Education-1986 and the Programme of Action (POA)-1992, the following special provisions for SCs and STs have been incorporated in the existing schemes of the Departments of Elementary Education and Literacy and Secondary and Higher Education :
(a) relaxed norms for opening of primary/middle schools; a primary school within one km walking distance from habitations of Population upto 200 instead of habitations of upto 300 population.
(b) Abolition of tuition fee in all States in Government Schools at least upto the upper primary level.
In fact, most of the states have abolished tuition fees for SC/ST students up to the senior secondary level.
(c) Incentives like free textbooks, uniforms, stationery, schools bags, etc., for these students.
(d) The Constitutional (86th Amendment) Bill, notified on 13 December 2002, provides for free and compulsory elementary education as a Fundamental Right, for all children in the age group of 6-14 years.
(e) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) : SSA is a historic stride towards achieving the long cherished goal of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE) through a time bound integrated approach, in PARTNERSHIP with States. SSA, which promises to change the face of elementary Education sector of the country, aims to provide useful and quality elementary education to all children in the 6-14 age group by 2010.
The main features of the programme are : (i) Focus on girls, especially belonging to SC/ST communities and minority groups.
(ii) Back to school campus for out of school girls.
(iii) Free textbooks for girls.
(iv) Special coaching remedial classes for girls and a congenial Learning Environment.
(v) Teachers’ sensitisation programmes to promote equitable learning opportunities.
(vi) Special focus for innovative projects related to girls education.
(vii) Recruitment of 50 per cent female teachers.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
As per the 2001 census, the population of SCs and STs taken together amount to 24.61 % of the country’s total population (SC 16.2% and ST 8.43%). A host of Articles (Articles 46,332,335, and 338 to 342) and the entire fifth and sixth Scheduled of the constitution deal with promotion of education and economic interests of these sections and to protect them from all forms of socialexploitation. Government at the national and State Levels have beenimplementing, from time to time, a number of programmes so as promote their education among them.
The major one’s include:
Postmatric scholarship to students
Provision of free school uniform and textbooks.
Provision of free reading writing material
Establishment of residential Schools
Relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks for admission for SC/ST candidates.
Career Orientation to students to ensure that the graduates have knowledge, skills and attitudes for gainful EMPLOYMENT in the wage sector in general and self-employment in particular
Financial assistance for Remedial Coaching.It provides financial assistance to the existing coaching centers to prepare SC/STcandidates for the National Eligibility test (NET) conducted byUGC/CSIR.
Remedial Coaching scheme at UG/PG level. Despite all these, the rate of literacy, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), and Dropout rate amongst SC and ST population continue to remain a serious cause of concern.
Women/Girls
As per the Census 2001, women constitute 48.26 % of the totalpopulation. Education For Women’s Equality is a vital component of the overall strategy of securing equality and social Justice in education. The National Policy on Education, 1986 envisages the use of education as an instrument of basic change in the status of women. Para 4.2 and 4.3 of the NPE, 1986 states the intervening and empowering role of education.
Inter alia,they emphasize the provision of special support Services and removal of factors which result indiscrimination against women at all levels of education. The policy also lays emphasis on women’s participation in vocational, technical and professionaleducation at different levels. The Constitution of India grants equality to women and forbids any discrimination based on religion, sex, race, caste or place of birth(Art.15). It also empowers the States to practice protective discrimination in favour of women.
Children with Special Needs (CWSN)
Children with Special Needs (CWSN) refer to all children those whorequire adaptations to the normal process of education due to problems of vision,hearing, movement, learning and intellect. These adaptations could be of learning materials like textbooks, teaching methods, homework and other assignments given in the class, assessment and examinations. Throughout the world, the children having disabilities or learning difficultiesare often marginalized within or even sometimes excluded from the schoolsystems. In many developing countries, the children remain hidden as a result of the stigmatizing attitudes and negative value dispositions of the communitymembers. As per Census 2001 data, CWSN constitute 2.1% of the total childpopulation. But the Percentage of CWSN to total enrolment in elementary classes in 2007-08 is as less as 0.84.
Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) Act 1992
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) is a statutory body set up withthe twin responsibilities of standardizing and regulating the training of personneland professionals in the field of rehabilitation and special education.Trainingof special educators and resource teachers that can offer support services to children with special needs in regular schools is the responsibility of RCI.
Education represents true Empowerment and must be used as a liberating force. It is widely accepted that there are remarkable increases in measures of Quality Of Life index in the population that have become educated. With a little more sincerity, Empathy and a sense of caring, the educational needs of these categories can be met and with that, their lives and those of the people around them can truly be transformed. The measures suggested in the variousrecommendations deserve to be fully implemented, subject of course, to theavailability of Resources and an enabling legal and administrative framework.Through better targeting and tighter monitoring, all the funds allocated for these sections should be fully utilized and all the inputs should be made available.,
Education is the key to success in life. It provides people with the knowledge and skills they need to get good jobs, earn a decent living, and participate fully in Society. However, access to education is not always equal. Girls, other socially and economically disadvantaged sections of people and minorities often face barriers to education that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
One of the biggest barriers to education is POVERTY. Children from poor families are more likely to live in areas with poor schools, have less access to educational resources, and have parents who are less educated. As a result, they are more likely to drop out of school or perform poorly in school.
Another barrier to education is gender inequality. Girls are often discriminated against in education, both in terms of access and quality. They may be less likely to be enrolled in school, less likely to complete school, and less likely to receive a quality education.
Children from minority groups may also face barriers to education. They may be discriminated against in school, have less access to educational resources, and have parents who are less educated. As a result, they are more likely to drop out of school or perform poorly in school.
There are a number of things that can be done to address the barriers to education faced by girls, other socially and economically disadvantaged sections of people and minorities. One important step is to ensure that all children have access to quality early childhood education. This can help to level the playing field and give all children a chance to succeed in school.
Another important step is to provide scholarships and financial aid to students from low-income families. This can help to reduce the financial burden of education and make it more affordable for all students.
It is also important to address the issue of gender inequality in education. This can be done by providing girls with access to quality education, supporting female teachers, and combating gender-based violence.
Finally, it is important to address the issue of discrimination against minority groups in education. This can be done by providing minority students with access to quality education, supporting minority teachers, and combating discrimination.
By addressing these issues, we can help to ensure that all children have access to a quality education, regardless of their background. This is essential for building a more just and equitable society.
In addition to the above, there are a number of other things that can be done to improve education for girls, other socially and economically disadvantaged sections of people and minorities. These include:
- Investing in teacher Training and Development.
- Developing and implementing gender-sensitive curricula.
- Providing safe and supportive learning environments.
- Addressing the needs of girls with disabilities.
- Working to change social norms and attitudes that discriminate against girls and women.
By taking these steps, we can help to ensure that all girls and women have the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to society.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about education in general:
What is education?
Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and directed research. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of educators, but learners may also educate themselves. Education can take place in formal or informal settings and any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational. The methodology of teaching is called pedagogy.What are the different types of education?
There are many different types of education, including formal education, informal education, and non-formal education. Formal education is the most common type of education and takes place in schools, colleges, and universities. Informal education takes place outside of formal educational institutions and can include things like learning from parents, friends, or the media. Non-formal education is a type of education that is not as structured as formal education, but is still more structured than informal education. It can take place in a variety of settings, such as community centers, workplaces, or religious institutions.What are the benefits of education?
There are many benefits to education, including improved job prospects, higher earnings, better Health, and increased civic engagement. Education can also help people develop their critical thinking skills, learn how to solve problems, and become more tolerant of others.What are the challenges of education?
There are many challenges to education, including poverty, lack of access to quality education, and discrimination. Poverty can make it difficult for children to attend school, and lack of access to quality education can hinder children’s learning. Discrimination can also prevent children from getting an education, as they may be denied admission to schools or be treated differently by teachers and other students.What is the future of education?
The future of education is uncertain, but there are some trends that are likely to continue. These trends include the increasing use of technology in education, the growing importance of lifelong learning, and the need to prepare students for the 21st century workforce.What are some of the most important issues in education today?
Some of the most important issues in education today include the achievement gap, the cost of college, and the need to prepare students for the 21st century workforce. The achievement gap is the difference in academic performance between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. The cost of college has been rising steadily in recent years, making it difficult for many students to afford a college education. The need to prepare students for the 21st century workforce is driven by the changing nature of work, as more and more jobs require skills in areas such as critical thinking, problem solving, and Communication.What can be done to improve education?
There are many things that can be done to improve education, including increasing funding for education, providing more support for teachers, and reforming the way schools are run. Increasing funding for education would allow schools to hire more teachers, provide more resources for students, and offer more programs. Providing more support for teachers would help them to be more effective in their classrooms. Reforming the way schools are run would help to improve student achievement and reduce the achievement gap.
Sure, here are some MCQs on the following topics:
Education for Girls
Which of the following is not a reason why girls are less likely to be educated than boys?
(A) Girls are often expected to stay at home and help with household chores.
(B) Girls may be married off at a young age, which prevents them from attending school.
(C) Girls may be victims of violence, which can prevent them from attending school.
(D) Girls may not have access to quality education.Which of the following is a positive impact of educating girls?
(A) Girls are more likely to have healthy children.
(B) Girls are more likely to be employed.
(C) Girls are more likely to participate in decision-making.
(D) All of the above.Other Socially and Economically and other disadvantaged sections of people
Which of the following is not a socially and economically disadvantaged section of people?
(A) People with disabilities
(B) Indigenous people
(C) Refugees
(D) People living in povertyWhich of the following is a positive impact of investing in socially and economically disadvantaged sections of people?
(A) It can lead to economic Growth.
(B) It can reduce poverty.
(C) It can improve health outcomes.
(D) All of the above.Minorities
Which of the following is not a minority group?
(A) Religious minorities
(B) Ethnic minorities
(C) Sexual minorities
(D) WomenWhich of the following is a positive impact of protecting the rights of minorities?
(A) It can lead to social cohesion.
(B) It can promote Democracy.
(C) It can protect Human Rights.
(D) All of the above.
I hope these MCQs are helpful!