“Education is the single most important instrument for social and economic transformation. A well educated Population, adequately equipped with knowledge and skill is not only essential to support economic Growth, but is also a precondition for growth to be inclusive since it is the educated and skilled person who can stand to benefit most from the EMPLOYMENT opportunities which growth will provide.” (Para 10.1 of the Approach to the XIIth Five Year Plan). The Ministry of Human resource development has focused on an inclusive agenda, with a vision of realizing India’s human resource potential to its fullest, with Equity and excellence.
“All minorities…shall have the right to establish and administer education institutions of their own”is the mandate, as per ARTICLE 30(1) of the Constitution. Government is committed to address the existing backwardness in education of minorities, especially the Muslims, constituting the major chunk of the minorities. Therefore, the Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Programme, inter-alia, aims to enhance opportunities for education of minorities ensuring an equitable share in economic activities and employment.
According to ‘Sachar Committee Report’ “one-fourth of Muslim children in the age group of 6-14 years have either never attended school or are drop-outs. For children above the age of 17 years, the educational attainment of Muslims at matriculation is 17%, as against national Average at 26%. Only 50% of Muslims who complete middle school are likely to complete secondary education, compared to 62% at national level”. The Report has also drawn attention to the low levels of educational attainment among Muslim Women, Muslims in rural areas as well as in technical and higher education. The High Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Rajinder Sachar has also made a number of recommendations for improvement of the educational status of the Muslim communities
Ministry of Human Resource Development has also constituted a National Monitoring Committee on Minorities’ Education (NMCME) under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development. A Standing Committee under the chairmanship of Shri Siraj Hussain, IAS, Additional Secretary, Government of India and former Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard has also been constituted to address issues relating to educational Empowerment of minorities. The objective of the Standing Committee and its Sub-Committees are, as under:-
To monitor the minority related schemes/programs being implemented by the Ministry of Human Resource Development;
To suggest modifications, if required, in the schemes of the Ministry of Human Resource Development with a view to cater to the specific needs and requirements of the minority community;
To study report of previous Committees which have gone into the issues of minority education and welfare and suggest ways and means to implement the recommendations/conclusions of those Committees;
To advise the Committee on setting up a monitoring mechanism for minority related schemes/programs being run by the Ministry of HRD and
Any other issues relating to minority education which the Committee may want to bring to the notice of the Government and NMCME.
Ministry of HRD has taken several significant initiatives, as detailed below, during XIth Five Year Plan and the momentum of which are being continued/accelerated during the XIIth Five Year Plan:-
Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrasas (SPQEM)
Scheme for Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE-development/”>Infrastructure Development of Private Aided/Unaided Minority Institutions (IDMI)
Extension of Mid-Day-Meals (MDM) Scheme to Madarsas/Maqtabs
‘Saakshar Bharat’
Jan Shikshan Sansathan (JSS)
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
Strengthening of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL)
Establishment of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI)
List of Minority Concentration Districts
Sub-Mission on Polytechniques under the coordinated Action for Skill development
Girls Hostel Scheme
Setting up model schools
What Constitution Says
Article 46 of the Constitution states that, “The State shall promote, with special care, the education and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of social exploitation.” Articles 330, 332, 335, 338 to 342 and the entire Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution deal with special provisions for implementation of the objectives set forth in Article 46. Similarly, Articles 30 (1) provides for the rights of the Minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. These provisions need to be fully utilized for the benefit of these weaker sections in our Society.
National Monitoring Committee for Minorities’ Education (NMCME)
The National Monitoring Committee for Minorities’ Education (NMCME) has been reconstituted vie Ministry’s Resolution No. 6-4/2010-MC (Pt.) dated 23.12.2011. The first meeting of the reconstituted Committee was held on March 5, 2012 at New Delhi. At this meeting, a decision was taken to constitute a Standing Committee of NMCME and five sub-Committees of NMCME as under:
Implementation of Schemes Aimed at Minorities
Mapping of Educational Requirements of Minorities – Region & District-wise
Promotion of Urdu Language and enhance compatibility amongst minorities through knowledge of English.
The Government is also running the following Schemes for the improvement of Educational and Economic lot of the Minorities:
Central Sponsored Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrasa (SPQEM)
Scheme for Infrastructure Development Private Aided/Unaided Minority Institutes (IDMI) – (Elementary Secondary/Senior Secondary Schools)
The following material will help you understand better the work done for granting equal opportunities to the Minorities in the country:-
Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme for Minorities’ Welfare (Including Status Report)
Major Initiatives for Educational Advancement of Minorities
Government Decisions on Sachar Committee Recommendations (Including Monitoring of Action Taken)
Findings of Research Conducted by NUEPA – Participation of Muslims in Higher Education
GARIB NAWAZ SKILL DEVELOPMENT CENTRES
The Minister of State for Minority Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs said that Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centres will be established in 100 districts of the country.
These centres will effectively ensure employment-oriented skill development of youth belonging to Minority communities.
The courses will be short term (2 to 6 months) in fields such as mobile and laptop repairing, security guard training, housekeeping training, etc.
Jiyo Parsi
It is a central sector scheme formulated in September 2013 for containing population decline of Parsis in India.
Need of the Scheme: Population of Parsi community in India declined from 114,890 in 1941 to 57,624 as per Census 2011, thus declining by almost 50% in last 60 years.
Objective of Scheme: To target an increase in the Total Fertility Rate of the Parsi community, in order to stem or at least slow its population decline.
The Scheme will be implemented by the Parzor Foundation with the help of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat (BPP) and through the organizations/societies /Anjumans and Panchayat of the community concerned in existence for not less than three years.
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The educational development of minorities is a complex issue with many factors at play. Some of the key issues include access to education, achievement gaps, bilingual education, dropout rates, English language learners, funding for education, high school graduation rates, K-12 education, minority-serving institutions, school choice, teacher diversity, Title I schools, underrepresentation in gifted and talented programs, and underrepresentation in higher education.
Access to education is a major issue for many minority students. In some cases, minority students may not have access to the same quality of education as white students. This can be due to a number of factors, such as POVERTY, discrimination, and lack of Resources. As a result, minority students may be at a disadvantage when it comes to academic achievement.
Achievement gaps are another major issue for minority students. Minority students tend to score lower on standardized tests than white students. This gap is evident even in early childhood, and it persists throughout the school years. There are a number of factors that contribute to achievement gaps, including poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to quality education.
Bilingual education is a program that provides instruction in both English and the student’s native language. This type of education can be beneficial for minority students who are Learning English as a second language. Bilingual education can help students develop strong language skills in both English and their native language. It can also help students succeed academically.
Dropout rates are another issue that affects minority students. Minority students are more likely to drop out of high school than white students. This is due to a number of factors, such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of motivation. Dropout rates have a negative impact on minority students’ future opportunities.
English language learners (ELLs) are students who are learning English as a second language. ELLs face a number of challenges in school, including language barriers, cultural differences, and academic expectations. ELLs need special support to succeed in school.
Funding for education is another important issue. Schools in low-income areas often receive less funding than schools in high-income areas. This can lead to disparities in the quality of education that students receive. Schools in low-income areas may have fewer resources, such as qualified teachers and up-to-date textbooks. This can make it difficult for students to succeed academically.
High school graduation rates are another important issue. Minority students are less likely to graduate from high school than white students. This is due to a number of factors, such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of motivation. High school graduation rates have a negative impact on minority students’ future opportunities.
K-12 education is the education that students receive from kindergarten through 12th grade. K-12 education is important for all students, but it is especially important for minority students. K-12 education can help minority students develop the skills they need to succeed in college and in the workforce.
Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) are colleges and universities that are designed to serve minority students. MSIs offer a number of benefits to minority students, such as a supportive Environment, culturally relevant curriculum, and access to financial aid. MSIs can help minority students succeed in college and in the workforce.
School choice is the idea that parents should have the right to choose the school that their children attend. School choice can take a number of forms, such as vouchers, charter schools, and magnet schools. School choice can be beneficial for minority students, as it can give them access to better schools.
Teacher diversity is the idea that the teaching profession should reflect the diversity of the student population. Teacher diversity is important because it can help students see themselves represented in the classroom. It can also help students learn about different cultures and perspectives.
Title I schools are schools that receive federal funding to support students from low-income families. Title I schools often have a high percentage of minority students. Title I schools offer a number of Services to support students, such as tutoring, after-school programs, and summer school.
Underrepresentation in gifted and talented programs is the idea that minority students are underrepresented in these programs. Gifted and talented programs are designed to provide challenging academic opportunities for high-achieving students. Underrepresentation in gifted and talented programs can have a negative impact on minority students’ academic achievement.
Underrepresentation in higher education is the idea that minority students are underrepresented in colleges and universities. Underrepresentation in higher education can have a negative impact on minority students’ future opportunities.
The educational development of minorities is a complex issue with many factors at play. It is important to address these issues in order to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the educational development of minorities:
What are some of the challenges that minorities face in education?
Minorities face a number of challenges in education, including:
Poverty: Minority students are more likely to live in poverty than white students. This can lead to a number of problems, such as lack of access to quality education, poor Nutrition, and inadequate housing.
Language barriers: Many minority students come from homes where English is not the primary language. This can make it difficult for them to succeed in school, as they may not be able to understand the material being taught or communicate effectively with their teachers and classmates.
Discrimination: Minority students may face discrimination from teachers, administrators, and other students. This can make it difficult for them to feel comfortable in school and succeed academically.
Cultural differences: Minority students may have different cultural values and beliefs than the majority culture. This can sometimes lead to conflict with teachers and other students, and can make it difficult for them to succeed in school.
What are some of the things that can be done to help minorities succeed in education?
There are a number of things that can be done to help minorities succeed in education, including:
Provide quality education: All students, regardless of their race or ethnicity, deserve access to a quality education. This means providing them with qualified teachers, adequate resources, and a safe and supportive learning environment.
Address poverty: One of the best ways to help minority students succeed in school is to address the issue of poverty. This can be done through a variety of programs and initiatives, such as providing free or reduced-price school meals, offering after-school programs, and providing housing assistance.
Help students learn English: Many minority students come from homes where English is not the primary language. This can make it difficult for them to succeed in school. One way to help these students is to provide them with English language instruction. This can be done through a variety of programs, such as bilingual education programs, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, and sheltered instruction programs.
Combat discrimination: Minority students may face discrimination from teachers, administrators, and other students. This can make it difficult for them to feel comfortable in school and succeed academically. Schools can combat discrimination by creating a safe and supportive learning environment, where all students feel welcome and respected.
Value diversity: Minority students may have different cultural values and beliefs than the majority culture. This can sometimes lead to conflict with teachers and other students, and can make it difficult for them to succeed in school. Schools can value diversity by celebrating the different cultures represented in their student body, and by providing opportunities for students to learn about and appreciate different cultures.
What are some of the benefits of helping minorities succeed in education?
There are a number of benefits to helping minorities succeed in education, including:
Improved academic achievement: When minority students are given the opportunity to succeed in school, they often do. They tend to earn higher grades, score higher on standardized tests, and graduate from high school and college at higher rates.
Reduced crime rates: Studies have shown that there is a link between education and crime. People who are more educated are less likely to commit crimes. Helping minorities succeed in education can help to reduce crime rates in communities.
Increased economic opportunities: Education is the key to economic opportunity. People with more education are more likely to have good jobs and earn higher salaries. Helping minorities succeed in education can help to improve their economic opportunities.
Stronger communities: When minority students succeed in school, they are more likely to become involved in their communities. They are more likely to vote, volunteer, and serve on boards and commissions. Helping minorities succeed in education can help to build stronger communities.
Which of the following is not a factor that affects educational development?
(A) Socioeconomic status
(B) Gender
(C) Race
(D) Religion
Which of the following is a goal of educational development?
(A) To increase the number of people who have a college degree
(B) To improve the quality of education
(C) To make education more accessible to all people
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is a challenge to educational development?
(A) Poverty
(B) Lack of access to quality education
(C) Discrimination
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is an example of a program that supports educational development?
(A) Head Start
(B) The Pell Grant
(C) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is a way to measure the success of educational development?
(A) Increase in the number of people who have a college degree
(B) Improvement in test scores
(C) Increase in the number of people who are employed
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is a way to improve educational development?
(A) Increase funding for education
(B) Provide more training for teachers
(C) Make education more accessible to all people
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is a benefit of educational development?
(A) Increased economic growth
(B) Reduced crime rates
(C) Improved Health outcomes
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is a cost of educational development?
(A) Increased taxes
(B) Decreased funding for other programs
(C) Increased competition for jobs
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is a conclusion that can be drawn from the information in this passage?
(A) Educational development is important for the success of individuals and societies.
(B) There are many challenges to educational development.
(C) There are many ways to support educational development.
(D) All of the above.