Reaching the

Unreached
A Challenge for Rural
Development

Introduction
The most important stumbling block to socio-economic
development is illiteracy, especially adult illiteracy.

18 to 20 per cent children are never enrolled

Huge drop-out rate

Not more than 7 per cent of the relevant age-group attend the
tertiary level of education.

Rate of growth of population outstrips the rate of growth of

literacy

Illiteracy forces lowly paid agricultural employment and

unemployment

The Problem with Rural

Development

Illiteracy

Low Skill Development

Dire need to educate the teeming underprivileged masses

Barriers Social, Economic, Religious Low per capita income,

dogmas, etc.

Low Human Resource Development

The Paradox

On one hand, India can claim to possess the second largest

educational infrastructure in world, next only to the U.S.A.

Tertiary Education Several pockets of excellence

On the other hand, India contributes 40% towards the worlds

illiterates.

Actual number of illiterates increasing

The Explosions
Explosion of expectation after independence

Only articulated by the urban elite and heavy-weights

Cake of independence was taken away by the select few

Higher Education a prerogative of the richer few

Accentuated the imbalance

Explosion of Population

Majority of the population is rural

The situation of rural education is pity-worthy
Fewer motivators for children to attain education

Human Resource and Education

India has a huge pool of labour and human resource

Low Skill Development

Low per capita productivity

Resource is more of a burden than an advantage

Illiteracy does not allow for the labour to acquire any new skills

Education and the Girl Child

Neglected

work participation ratio is very low

overwhelming majority engaged as agricultural labour physically exacting also poorly remunerated.

Limitations to female education

Need to spend on dowry

No schools in vicinity

Social Stigmas

Strategies of Educating the

underprivileged

Strategy for babies born in the 21st Century

Strategy for the illiterate children and adults carried over from
the last century

Special Features of the Open & Distance Learning

Vocational Education

Strategy for babies born in the

21st Century

Current spending on primary education 3.5% of GDP

Minimum expected spending 7% of GDP

Necessary Requirements

Free primary and elementary level education to all children

belonging to the under-privileged sections

Removal of Food Insecurity

Incentives to parents of school going children as opportunity cost

of working children, wage employments, financial assistance etc.

Free supply of schooling kits

Strategy for babies born in the

21st Century

Mid-day meals to children

Scholarships for children in higher classes

Appointment of tribal teachers knowing their own (tribal) languages and

dialects

Location of schools very close to their habitats. If the settlements are very
small, locating schools at the central points within working distances

Specialised training of teachers

Use of scientific media methods including IT/ICT, to convince the parents

and guardians

Heavy concentration on rural female literacy/education

Strategy for the illiterate carried

over from the last century

Many are either school non-enrollees or dropouts

Futile to expect them to enroll in regular schools

Non Formal Education (NFE)

Open and Distance Learning (ODL)

National Literacy Mission implementation of NFE scheme

Mixed success

Strategy for the illiterate carried

over from the last century
ODL

Not fully exploited for literacy and basic education.

But in recent times, it is realized as a useful tool for combating

illiteracy

Needs to be strengthened providing education in terms of

certificates, degrees, etc.

Serves as the fast increasing number of seekers of non-formal

distance education.

Should be backed by a strong and efficient educational

organisation well provided financially, administratively and
academically

Special Features of the ODL

Wide choice of subjects, satisfying individual learners needs,

interests and Abilities

No upper age restrictions and longer time range to complete

certain courses

Continuous Assessment System

Personal Contact Programmes ( PCP)

Printed self-learning materials

Personal Contact Programme tutors and academic counselors

Use of modern communication and information technologies

Audio-video Programmes and tele conferencing

Internet and websites- for student information.

Interactive periodical magazines.

Vocational Education

Need to cover rural school drop-outs

Type of vocational training must be related to agriculture and

allied occupations

Long-term strategy

Heavy investment in the basic infrastructure

Ex - all-weather roads, water supply and power

Consequences (in case of its absence)

Villages will always remain backward

Village population will be illiterate and unskilled.

Is there political will necessary for such a strategy in

the democratic set up?

CONCLUSION

New strategies of compulsory primary and elementary education

must be devised and forcefully implemented.

For new born formal type of education is best suited.

For illiterate children and adults - non-formal and open and

distance learning modes is best suited.

Carry over problem of bygones

Deficiencies of both formal and non-formal modes need to be

improved

Concentration on female education may reduce problem of

parental indifference and child labour.

CONCLUSION

Urgent measures

Increase in national savings

Public investment in primary education.

Key factor Population factor

Reduction in population -> Reduction in consumption of goods and
services -> increase in per capita availability of inevitable
resources -> demand in fields of education will come down -> enable
the planners to raise efficiency.