Education System and Rural India

Education is considered as the pillar of economic growth of a nation. Sufficient education helps in the overall development of society and the country as a whole. I am sure everyone is aware of this fact and these are no new words still, when we talk about India, there are significant number of children who are deprived even of basic Education. According to the National Family Health Survey literacy rate of India is 77.7 percent, which is significantly improved since independence but still, a literate person means one who can read and right at least one language. It does not ensure the level of education required to acquire a steady livelihood.

Let us try to figure out some of the may be reasons hampering the academic development of rural youth.

Learning Opportunities in Rural India

India, on one hand, is shifting towards adopting new teaching concepts not to just get a job but to produce creators, innovators, and disruptors where students are encouraged to think outside the box and examine every concept critically. On the other hand, there is a section of society that is not even able to make it to complete their primary education.

A large majority of the rural population of India is highly dependent on government-aided schools and NGOs. But rural areas still face various barriers impacting the literacy rate of the country. About 70% of India still lives in villages and are educated at institutions in rural areas. Students in small rural areas face several challenges due to a lack of resources and limited learning opportunities.

Ready to Study?

Being grown up in a small town, I have an idea about the state of mind that restricts a child from completing his schooling. Parents also tend to see education as an expense rather than an investment. Many of the students coming from families with meager incomes, not sufficient to even feed the family are asked to contribute by earning extra income instead of going to school and studying. Also after completion of basic schooling, when it comes to higher education, There is a negligible chance of moving to an institution in a distant city for higher studies because that adds to their expenses.

Lack of proper utilisation of government sanctions

Although the Government is working towards improvement in rural education by providing budget and launching various schemes, lack of thorough supervision and process tracking has resulted?in poor implementation of education plans. Students don’t often get access to a good learning environment, infrastructure, facilities, and mentors.?

Poor foundation skills buildup

Even though rural children go to school, the learning quality they receive is not as per standards. Their basic skills in reading, Logics and calculations and are mostly poor. Some new decisions like?exam-less upgradation to next level class has also resulted into non-seriousness in studies until certain age which is actually very critical. Parents in rural areas also are not too much interested in the academic development of children resulting into minimal development of required learning attributes. As per ASER 2022 data, only 43% of std V students can read an std II level text. And only 25.6% of children in std V can solve a subtraction problem.

Communication

As per the academic system of India, Learning English language is considered as one of the must required competency to get a job, whereas in rural areas the majority of schools are in vernacular language. Speaking and writing in English is not given much importance. This leads to lack of english language communication skill and then low interest in higher education. This mental state of not knowing English makes students less confident and fearful in expressing themselves during approaching for higher education and job opportunities.

Education and Poverty

Oscar Lewis believed that children growing up in poor families would learn to adapt to the values and norms that perpetuated poverty. The children would replicate these in their own lives, creating a cycle of intergenerational poverty. The cycle of poverty has been defined as a phenomenon where poor families become impoverished for at least three generations

Education is a great social equalizer. Education and poverty are linked and creates a vicious circle hard to get out from. The more educated a person becomes, the better his chances of improving the financial condition of self and his family which ultimately aids in transitioning out of poverty. However, the paradox is that those in poverty are less likely to attend school to build the income they need to escape poverty.

Proposed Way Forward

Proper Awareness is required to promote education. Phased rigorous awareness drives can be initiated with collaboration with NGOs and Schools to spread maximum awareness about the necessity of education against early earning opportunities?

Practical Skill development based courses can be added in the school curriculum, particularly for rural students which can help in linking education with their requirements and also develop employable skills. This may also be interesting for students.

Government schemes and grants must be more thoroughly and continuously inspected and audited for maximum positive impact.

Capable and interested rural youth can be identified at regular intervals and given proper opportunities for growth so that they can be idols for rest of the section.?