Page 152 - DEDU501_DEVELOPMENT_OF_EDUCATION_SYSTEM_ENGLISH

Development of Education System

Notes Self Assessment
1. Fill in the Blanks:
(i) Universalization of ............................ means that school facilities should be provided to all
children between the age group of 6 to 14 years.
(ii) ........................ has become an accepted alternative channel of education for children who
can not attend full time school due to various socio economic problems.
(iii) .......................... was introduced in 1987-88 to bring all existing primary schools in the country
to a minimum standard of physical facilities.
(iv) ........................ is a crucial input in the strategy of human resource development as a feeder
and support programme.

16.4 Progress in UEE since Independence

The total enrolment at the primary and upper primary school levels in India has witnessed a
steady increase. Total enrolment at the primary stage (grades I-V) increased 6 times from 19.2
million in 1950-51 to about 128.3 million in 2003-2004. Total enrolment at the Upper Primary levels
(grades VI- VIII) increased by 14 times, from 3.1 million in 1950-51 to 48.7 million in 2000-2001.
The growth rate of girls’ enrolment at the elementary level was higher as compared to that of the
boys. Participation of girls at all levels of school education has improved appreciably over the
years.
The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at Primary and Upper Primary levels improved perceptibly
from 1950-51 to 2003-2004. The GER rose at the Primary level from 42.6 per cent in 1950-51 to 98.3
per cent in 2003-2004. Enrolment for girls rose from 24.8 per cent to 95.7 per cent during this
period. The boys/girls differential also declined substantially. The GER at the Upper Primary
level improved from 12.7 per cent in 1950-51 to 62.4 per cent in 2003-2004 with what that for girls
increasing from 4.6 per cent to 57.6 percent for this period. Though the participation of girls at
levels of school education has increased substantially, the proportion of girls enrolled both at the
Primary and Upper Primary levels continues to be lower than the gross enrolment of boys. Vast
disparities exist amongst the States/UTs in terms of enrolment with educationally backward states
having a lower GER than the all India average.

Use of the terms ‘Primary’ and ‘Elementary’ has not been uniform. Sometimes they are
used interchangeably. Sometimes ‘primary’ (lower Primary) class I to V and upper
Primary (classes VI to VIII) or Middle are used. Middle Schools sometimes include classes
I to VIII and mostly classes VI to VIII.

16.5 Measures for the Achievement of the Goal of UEE

1. Priority to Elementary Education: Elementary education should be developed on priority
basis and percentage of budget under this sector should be suitably raised. There has been a
decline in expenditure in this sector. From 55 percent of the total educational budget spent
on elementary education during the First Plan, it came down to 36 percent in the Sixth Plan,
34 per cent in the Seventh Plan and 47 percent in Eighth Plan.
2. Rational Use of Finance: Cost on elementary education may be rationalised by:
(a) Introducing double shift wherever possible.
(b) Harnessing community resources in men, material and monetary terms.
(c) Evolving a system of voluntary service in the form of teaching by young persons who
have completed secondary school or college.

146 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY