Problems, issues and concerns of universalisation of secondary education 

Back to: Education in Contemporary India – Unit 2

Education is an individual’s dynamic force and plays a highly influential role in a person’s mental, emotional, social, physical, creative, spiritual, and ethical development. It helps an individual to go through various experiences and implement these experiences in creating a meaningful life. According to Plato,

“Education is the capacity to feel pleasure and pain at the right moment; it develops in the body and in the soul of the student all the beauty and all the perfection which he is capable of.”

Universalization of secondary education involves the expansion of schools currently in existence. It strives to establish new schools and educational institutions not only in urban areas but in rural areas too. The government seeks to invest and contribute to the educational development of learners.  This ensures the generation of more human capital in the future which is necessary for the social and economic growth of the nation. Universal Elementary Education (UEE) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) are some of the major steps taken by the government to facilitate the universalization of secondary education.

The problems and issues of Universalisation of Secondary Education are as follows:

Ignorance by parents

Despite the government’s efforts to offer free and compulsory education, many people living in remote areas still ignore sending their children to school.

Lack of coordination

There is a lack of coordination between the local community and the educational institutions which leads to issues in universalizing elementary education.

An attitude of Indifference

There is an air of indifferent attitude by the higher authorities which leads to a lack of effort in the universalization of elementary education.

Lack of funds

There is an inadequacy of funds which leads to a lack of learning resources and materials.

Poverty

Even though education may be free, there are still some expenses parents have to incur and those belonging to a poor social class may therefore refrain from sending their children to school.

Lack of resources

Even with the government’s provision of learning resources, it continues to be inadequate for quality education.

Quality

Due to the inadequacy of resources and lack of teachers at times, the quality of education in public schools is low.

Lack of motivation

Those who belong to a poor socioeconomic economic background may not consider education to be important. They motivate their children to work instead of to become educated.

Retention

Once students reach the second stage of education, they start getting diverted into many other things and fail to retain their educational development.

Lack of Girls School

There is low availability of girl schools funded by the government and hence, there is a low percentage of female enrolment.

While the government has taken many steps to universalize education, these issues and problems continue to pose a challenge.