From: [email protected] Celebrate Children: Educate Them! Fr. Cedric Prakash, SJ*
The progress of any society is reflected in its level of education. While education need not necessarily make for better individuals, it definitely provides one with greater possibilities and opportunities in life. It is therefore significant that sixty-two years after independence, the Indian Parliament finally passed The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill which makes it mandatory for children to be provided education between the ages of 6 and 14 years. The new law, despite many loopholes, is certainly a landmark legislation; However, the political will to ensure its effective implementation is woefully lacking. Theoretically, all sections of society agree that education is a priority. There are definitely several individuals and groups involved in creditable efforts to realize this. The Teach India initiative is a case in point. These need to be lauded. On the other hand, the Government both at the Centre and the State, should not in any way abdicate its responsibility. Education is a primary responsibility of the State. How does Gujarat fare in the education of her children? Here are some glimpses into the reality: - Child labour is rampant: in the cotton fields of Sabarkntha District, in the garment and the zardozi units of Surat, in the kitlis of our big cities, and in the textile sector. According to official statistics, Gujarat has more than 1.5 million child-labourers and the unofficial figure is several times higher. - The enrollment in municipal schools has dramatically declined in the last few years. - In rural areas the situation is even worse, where thousands of tribal and dalit children have practically no access to education. - According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) Rural 2008, only 59.6 percent rural children (standard 3-5) in Gujarat can read standard one text, against the all India average of 66.6 percent, while only 43.1 percent could do subtraction against the national average of 54.9 percent. - The latest National rankings of the Educational Development Index (EDI) state, the dropout rate of Gujarat in classes VII and VIII is higher than the BIMARU States, which are ranked much below Gujarat in the economic development index. - Schools selected under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan have neither space nor the facilities needed for education. - A recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report held that Gujarat was one of the States that siphoned off huge funds meant for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. - The textbooks provided by the State School Textbook Board could be rated as perhaps the worst in the country, replete with language and factual errors; stereotyping and slurring minorities, dalits, adivasis and even women. Campaigns by civil rights groups and the media to change these textbooks have met with no response from the government. - The education of the girl-child in the State is still pathetic with much fewer girls completing primary education than boys. - The UGC Annual Report puts Gujarat at a dismal 17th place in the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education. So what are we talking about? Another Childrens Day has arrived! There will be much fanfare for certain sections of children. They should not be denied this. The fact remains that if we truly want to celebrate children we must provide all children with a value-based education first. We need to focus on the children who live in our villages and slums, the dalits, the adivasis, and the sub-altern groups. They deserve quality education too. Is anybody listening? *(Fr. Cedric Prakash is the Director of PRASHANT the Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace in Ahmedabad. He is currently the Wade Chair Scholar at Marquette University, USA.) Fr. Cedric Prakash sj Wade Chair Scholar Johnston Hall 421 Marquette University, WI Office Phone (414) 288-4068 Residence Phone (414) 288-5081 Cell 773-372-5105 India Address PRASHANT (A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace) Hill Nagar, Near Kamdhenu Hall, Drive-in Road, Ahmedabad - 380052, Gujarat, India
