Theories of social change follow a regular course that has a definitive pattern. Ordinary social life is organized in cyclic changes that evolve over the day, week, or year. These short-term changes are necessary to maintain stability in society. However, radical changes follow a path that is noncyclical, nonlinear, and unpredictable. Education is a key parameter for social change and for sustainable rural development. To bring youth from underprivileged rural backgrounds into the mainstream, it is necessary to invest in education. The thrust in rural education requires anchoring quality and equity. The system and thought processes require a radical redesign to derive the intended benefits.
Education is a key parameter for social change and for sustainable rural development. The thrust in rural education requires anchoring quality and equity.
Rural Education in India: Quality and Equity
India is a diverse and large country broadly divided into two social sections: urban and rural. While the rural population of India represents 65% of the total population, it contributes 25–30% to the country’s GDP. To take this figure higher requires education and gainful employment. The human development agenda can only be realized if the primary issue, literacy in rural areas, is improved. The rural education system often lacks proper Infrastructure, investment, and improved teaching methodologies, and are furthered impeded by social inequalities, and other factors.
Although government investment is on the rise, the lack of higher-education opportunities results in socioeconomic stratification, giving rise to disparate access to quality education in the country, resulting in disparity in quality and equity.
The way forward to take this figure higher is recognized to be education and gainful employment. The human development agenda can only be realized if the primary issue, literacy in rural areas, is improved.
Reimagining Rural Education in India
Article 21A of the Constitution of India envisions primary education as a fundamental right. A few initiatives that the Indian government has taken to improve education in rural India are as follows –
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), launched in 2001, aims to universalize elementary education in India by ensuring that all children in the ages 6–14 years receive free and compulsory education. It focuses on increasing enrollment and improving the quality of education in rural areas.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme, launched in 1995, provides free lunches to schoolchildren from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme aims to improve enrollment and attendance in schools, especially in rural areas.
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), launched in 2009, aims to improve the quality of secondary education in rural areas by providing additional financial and technical support to states.
National Programme of Education for Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL), launched in 2008, aims to improve the enrollment and retention of girls in schools in rural areas by providing additional resources and support to schools and communities.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), launched in 2004, aims to provide quality education to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds by setting up residential schools for girls in difficult-to-reach rural areas. These schools provide free education, uniforms, books, and other materials to students.
According to Article 21A, primary education is a fundamental right. Reimagining and upgrading rural education in India to achieve the vision of accessibility, quality, and a level playing field is the need of the hour. Achieving this will be possible with:
- A policy of uniformity in academics and infrastructure and establishing standards for schools across the board.
- Providing resources for education is managed through expenditure per child.
- Establishing standards for teaching staff, avoiding multitasking and multi-grade teaching.
- Mandatory transportation facilities are financed through RTE.
Egalitarian education is the way forward to an inclusive India. Higher education and adequate employment opportunities in conjunction with primary education can work wonders for human development in rural India.
Here are a few initiatives that the Indian government has taken to improve education in rural India.
Transform Lives One School at a Time
S M Sehgal Foundation (Sehgal Foundation) is a rural development NGO in India that has been working since 1999 to improve the quality of life of rural communities in India. S M Sehgal Foundation is involved with identifying gaps and creating sustainable rural development in India. A primary program area is Transform Lives one school at a time, which provides rural schoolchildren access to drinking water, better sanitation facilities, a learning-conducive school environment, and digital and life skills awareness training. Parents, teachers, and children are encouraged to increase enrollment and reduce dropouts in rural government schools, especially for girl children. School management committees (SMCs) are provided with support and training to build their capacities for improved and sustained functioning of the school.
One of S M Sehgal Foundation’s main program areas is Transform Lives one school at a time. The idea is to be a partner in the progress of India and help implement and deliver last-mile development programs.
Lives Transformed: From Under the Trees to Smart Classrooms
With the objective to complement government efforts by transforming government schools in Bhandari in Sitamarhi district, Bihar, and provide a harmonious environment for learning, S M Sehgal Foundation in collaboration with PTC Foundation and Power Finance Corporation Limited, under their CSR initiative, implemented the Hamari Paathshaala initiative. As a result, two schools in Bhandari Panchayat have intact classrooms, safe drinking water, working toilets, solar-powered energy, and digital smart classrooms. The transformations undergone in Manchi and Bhandari schools were based on BaLA (Building as a Learning Aid) accreditation so that the classrooms, floors, walls, pillars, corridors, and outer spaces also act as added sources of learning. Rajkiya Buniyadi Vidyalaya, Manchi Bhandari, is now equipped with eight newly constructed classrooms and a new toilet block, including separate toilets for girl students, boy students, and teachers. Both schools now have drinking water stations and smart classrooms. Powered with solar energy, electricity is no longer a problem for the school, as the schools have an uninterrupted power supply at all times. Each classroom has necessary furniture such as desks, benches for students, teachers’ tables and chairs, a computer room, and others. The transformation of schools has been very beneficial for students and teachers. Students have a better place to learn. Enough classrooms, furniture, working toilets, and smart classes all help students to stay in school longer and make learning an easy and fun process. This endeavor to bridge the gap in education outcomes for rural India has led to leveling the gap.
S M Sehgal Foundation in collaboration with PTC Foundation and Power Finance Corporation Limited, under their CSR initiative, implemented the Hamari Paathshaala initiative.
FAQs
Education is a key parameter for social change and for sustainable rural development. In developed countries, education leads to continuous transformation, culminating in positive social change that evolves over a period of time. In order to bring youth from rural underprivileged backgrounds into the mainstream, it is necessary to invest in education.
The human development agenda can only be realized if the primary issue, literacy in rural areas, is improved. The rural education system at times lacks proper Infrastructure, investment, and improved teaching methodologies, furthered by social inequalities, and other factors.
Article 21A of the Constitution of India envisions primary education as a fundamental right. A few initiatives that the Indian government has taken to improve education in rural India are as follows –
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
- National Programme of Education for Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) –
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)
Reimagining and upgrading rural education in India to achieve the vision of accessibility, quality, and a level playing field are the needs of the hour. Achieving this could be possible with:
- A policy of uniformity in academics and infrastructure and establishing standards for schools across the board.
- Providing resources for education is managed through expenditure per child.
- Establishing standards for teaching staff, avoiding multitasking and multi-grade teaching.
- Mandatory transportation facilities are financed through RTE.
One primary program area is Transform Lives one school at a time, which provides schoolchildren access to drinking water, better sanitation facilities, a learning-conducive school environment, and digital and life skills awareness training.
The goal is to be a partner in the progress of India and help implement and deliver last-mile development programs.
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