Page 205 - DEDU503_EDUCATIONAL_MANAGEMENT_ENGLISH

Unit 16: Promoting Need based Educational Programmes

Slow but Encouraging Progress of Girls and Women Education Notes
The above table clearly illustrates that girls and women have now increasingly pursuing higher and
professional courses. The emerging courses that girls are now entering into are M.Com., BSc., BSc.
(Hons.), BE, BSc, BArch., MBBS etc. This is an encouraging trend. It shows that parents, especially
from urban areas and from relatively better socio-economic backgrounds, are sending their daughters
to higher education/professional courses. Participation of women in non-traditional courses has
gradually eroded the myth of gender bias and sex stereotyping in courses and professions. This
phenomena also depicts why there is a gradual rise in the status of women. However, this change
is by and large confined to urban areas and among the educated classes.
From the figures given above, it is quite clear that there has been phenomenal progress on women’s
education since independence but still there is a wide gap between female education and male
education.
Usually following causes of slow progress are mentioned :
(i) Lack of proper social attitudes in the rural and backward areas for the education of girls.
(ii) Lack of educational facilities in rural areas.
(iii) Economic backwardness of the rural community.
(iv) Conservative nature and co-educational aspects.
(v) Lack of suitable curriculum.

(vi) Lack of proper incentives to parents and children.
(vii) Lack of women teachers.
(viii) Lack of proper supervision and guidance due to inadequate women personnel in the
Inspectorate.
(ix) Uneducated adult women and lack of social education.
(x) Social ills.
(xi) Inadequate systematic publicity.
(xii) Indifference of Panchayats.

Measures for the Promotion of Women’s Education
Following measures are suggested :
I. Creating Proper Social attitude in the Rural and Backward Areas for the Education of Girls:
Following measures may be taken :
(1) To study the problems relating to women’s education and to get detailed scientific data, a
thorough research should be taken up by the Institutes of Education and allied institutions
in different States and coordinated at the national level.
(2) Separate schools for girls at the middle and high school stages should be established where
needed.
(3) School Mothers in co-education primary schools should be appointed.
(4) Creches and nursery classes wherever possible should be opened.
(5) Public opinion in favour of girls’ education should be created.
II. Providing Adequate Educational Facilities in Backward and Rural Areas : The target should
be to have at least one primary school within a radius of one kilometre from every home which
is within the walking distance of a child. Following steps are needed :
(1) Hostel for girls at the middle and high school stages.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 199