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Unit 16: Promoting Need based Educational Programmes

Need for Promotion of Education of the Weaker Sections’ Children Notes
The Education Commission 1964-66, in Chapter VI entitled ‘Equalisation of Educational Opportunity
and Social Change’ very aptly observed, “One of the important social objectives of education is to
equalise opportunity, enabling the backward or under-privileged classes and individuals to use
education as a lever for the improvement of their conditions. Every society that values social justice
and is anxious to improve the lot of the common man and cultivate all available talent must ensure
progressive equality of opportunity to all sections of the population. This is the only guarantee for
the building up of an egalitarian and humane society in which the exploitation of the weak is
minimised.” The Commission further stated, “The education of the backward classes in general and
the tribal people in particular is a major programme of equalisation and of social and national
integration. No expenditure is too great for this purpose.” Alas! We have not paid heed to these
words of wisdom. Non-implementation of this vital recommendation has led to disintegrative
tendencies, hatred and strife.
Policies on education—the National Policy on Education, 1968, 1986 and modified Policy Formulation
1992—all stress upon speedy action for the promotion of education of the deprived sections.
16.2.1 Constitutional Provisions regarding Deprived Socially
Disadvantaged Sections of Society
Article 15 : Prohibition of Discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of births
sub-section (4) states, “Nothing in this Article or in clause (2) of Article 29 shall prevent the State
from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward
classes or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.”
Article 46 : It reads, “the State shall provide with special care the educational and economic interests
of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.”
Article 338 : It makes provision for the appointment of a Special Officer for SCs and STs.
Article 390 : It envisages the appointment of a Commission to investigate the conditions of the
Backward classes.

16.2.2 The Measures Contemplated for Education of SCs Include :
(i) Incentives to indigent families to send their children to school regularly till they reach the age
of 14;
(ii) Pre-matric Scholarship scheme for children of families engaged in occupations such as
scavenging, flaying and tinning to be made applicable from Class I onwards. All children of
such families, regardless of incomes, will be covered by this scheme and time-bound programmes
targeted on them will be undertaken;
(iii) Constant micro-planning and verification to ensure that the enrolment, retention and successful
completion of courses by SC students do not fail at any stage, and provision of remedial courses
to improve their prospects for further education and in employment;
(iv) The recruitment of teachers from Scheduled Castes;
(v) Provision of facilities for SC students in hostels at district headquarters, according to a phased
programme;
(vi) Location of school buildings, Balwadis and Adult Education Centres in such a way as to facilitate
full participation of the Scheduled Castes; backward sections of society, particularly in the rural
areas. Hill and desert districts, remote and inaccessible areas and islands will be provided
adequate institutional infrastructure.

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