Education for women: A critical Analysis

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Education is considered as one of the most important driving force for the progress and the development of any nation. And not only men but women also have to play an equal and significant role in the overall development of the country. Therefore it is highly desirable that equal opportunities of education must be provided to both men and women. A report by the World Bank says that educating women does not come under charity, rather it comes under good economics and in order to eradicate poverty,countries must educate their women.

Indian Context

Although India has the potential of becoming one of the greatest economies in the world, but when it comes of women education, it represents a contrasting picture. Despite all the sincere efforts made by the government,the pace of women education is not at all satisfactory, specially in the rural areas. As per the census of India 2011, an increase in the pace of female literacy in the rural areas has been noticed (from 46.13% in 2001 to 58.75% in 2011) but,still rural women are facing lot of inequalities in terms of educational opportunities as compared to those of men. While the literacy rate of men is 82.14%, the female literacy rate is 65.46%, i.e, a gap of 16.95 between male & female literacy rate.

According to a survey report by NCERT, it has been reported that the women formed only 23% of the primary teachers in rural areas compared to those of 60% in the urban areas. Thus it clearly shows that there is acute shortage of competent and eligible women teachers specially in the rural India. Although the enrolment ratio among girl students is on rise but still, high rate of dropout among them continuous to be a major problem.

Some of the major causes of this inequality can be listed as below:

• Lack of awareness about the importance of education for females

• Poverty

• Early marriage of girls & purdah system.

• Conservative outlook towards girl child.

• Lack of qualified female teachers.

• Lack of proper security measures & basic facilities for the girl students in the schools and above all.

• Corruption at all levels, and at all places in the system.

Suggestive Measures

• Increasing awareness in the society about the importance of female education.

• In order to suit the convenience of the girl student, non-formal education facilities should be provided.

• Increasing the number of competent and eligible female teacher specially in the rural areas.

• Establishment and proper functioning of schools in the villages must be insured.

• Ensuring safety of the girl students & female teachers.

• Mass media should play an active role in creating a conducive environment in the favour of girl education.

• Special arrangements & provisions must be made for the disabled girl child.

• The quality of female education should also be taken care of.

Importance from the examination point of view:

1. Topic of social issue, of extreme importance

2. Essay on female education.

3. Critically examine the prevailing condition of female education specially in rural India. Despite the various initiatives taken by the government, what all factors can be held responsible for the educational backwards of rural women? Explain

4. “Educating women is not a charity, it is good economics”. Explain.

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