India is the second most populous state, but in production, we are far behind from others. We scaled several heights in different fields. We are a major player in space and nuclear science, but in different areas, we lag behind. There are several reasons for the same and sluggish education system and corruption are one of them. Our economy is growing. The manufacturing is shooting and as per a recent survey, it is growing at more than 10 percent per year.
Primary education in mother tongue
Annual School Education Report 2017 is now available and it portrays a mixed picture. According to this survey, a large portion of students in rural schools could not read fluently their own languages. On the other side, these kids can read and understand the English language. What is the reason behind it? The reason is very simple. Our governments or education system don’t give to official languages their dues. For example, in my native village of Madhubani, kids speak their mother tongue Maithili, which is one among 22 official languages. But when they are asked to read any Maithili book, they fail. Instead, they are able to read English books. However, they are not so fluent in speaking English. Our governments should develop a policy about primary education in respective official languages. It would help the kids in their overall development.
At the same time, there is considerable evidence that the social class barriers deeply impair the delivery of education, particularly school education.
Women education in India
There is a question mark on women’s education in India. As per the 2011 census, the female literacy rate is 65.46 percent. It is still below the world average of 79.7 percent. In a country of women scholars like Gargi, Maitri, Bharti, and many others, this is really deplorable. However, we see a dramatic increase in girls enrollment in educational institutions from schools to colleges and universities over the past years. Starting from a mere 25 percent in 1950-51, the share of girl students inched up slowly for the next 40 years reaching 39 percent in 1990-91. Then, in the next decade, it moved up to 42 percent. Since 2000-01, it has increased to within touching distance of the halfway mark. Once enrolled, girls are more likely to be conscientious in their studies and complete the course. Hence more girls get degrees than boys.
Why is this significant? For one, this puts India in the company of most advanced countries. In the EU countries, 54 percent of higher education students are women. In the USA this data is 55 percent and in China, it’s about 54 percent. In these countries, the status of women in society also improved simultaneously. More participation in jobs, more representation in political, administrative and economic decision making bodies, and a better status in society went hand in hand with better education.
In India, there is a bizarre mismatch between the educational attainments of women and their participation and status in all other aspects of the country’s life. Participation in work is just 27 percent, representation in Parliament is 11 percent and 8.8 percent in state legislatures. There are only 17 women CEOs of 500 largest listed companies.
What should the government do?
There are many reforms and strategies by the government towards the betterment of women education in India. But it is high time to think about the simple measures. Women education in India can be improved when-
1. Not to consider a girl child as a burden.
2. Similar opportunities to all of our kids.
3. Cooking, laundry, other household chores are not only women’s job.
4. Encourage our helpers to continue sending their kids to school without any discrimination.
5. To retain the women workforce of this country.
In most of the cases, this is all about changing our mindset. It has more to do with the thinking and attitude. There are a number of well-to-do families where women are confined to houses, not because they cannot do any better but because we take away their opportunity in letting them make their own place in the society.
A holistic education is the need of the hour where women think beyond just earning degrees or continue working.
The central government under PM Modi’s leadership is doing a lot for the women upliftment. Many steps have been taken for the same, including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana.