It is estimated that 70% population of India lives in villages. In contrast, the penetration of quality education is still not enough in rural India and is negligible when compared to the urban counterpart. This divide in education further adds to the problem of India’s development as a whole. In the year 2009, the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 was introduced and later added to the list of Fundamental Rights under the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act. Thus, it has been 11+ years since it has been first introduced. Let’s take a look at the quality of rural education in India that has been imparted.
Formal primary education:
In a wide data collection drive, it has been revealed that yet 76.92 Indian villages have primary schools. The data for availability of middle schools i.e. from grade 6 to 8, is only 39.5 in rural India. Whereas, the availability of secondary (grade 9-10) and senior secondary schools (grade 11-12) are only 18.4 and 11.13 respectively in rural India.
This draws a picture of the face of rural education in India. Imparting formal education in the rural areas of India has faced a further challenge in the years of the pandemic when the online medium became a primary source to impart education.
But due to the prevalent digital divide, this impartment of formal education took a back seat. As per an international organisation’s report for the year 2021, only 24% of Indian household has access to online education. Thus, it can highlight the grim face of rural education in India.
Vocational Education:
Vocational education is another innovative approach to empowering the youth of India with non-academic training. As per a statistical report, only 3.72% of Vocational Educational Centre’s are operational in rural India. This further sets back the alternative method of educating rural dwellers. Thus, the lack of quality educational infrastructure has slowed down rural education in India.
NGOs trying to bridge the gap:
NGOs are overwhelmingly working in the rural areas to accelerate the rate at which education is imparted in rural India. Setting up make-shift schools to not just impart education to a limited age group but everyone who lacks basic literacy. Leaping further, NGOs are also educating rural India against social evils and myths that are prevalent in rural India due to a lack of scientific knowledge. However, NGOs have their limitation due to the paucity of funds.
One may look at the number and paint a grim picture and walk away. But walking away is no solution. Let’s not forget the number of inspirational CEOs, bureaucrats and laureates who have come from a humble backgrounds. There is more such countless aspirational youth of India in rural areas who are waiting for an opportunity to grab by both hands. Governmental and Non-Governmental organisations are working tirelessly to help impart education and change the face of rural education in India. But alone these organisations can’t do it all without an outstretch of aid from the society at large.
Humanitarian Support 