– By Sriparna Raha
Education for children in India is both our greatest achievement and our most urgent unfinished work. Even with laws like the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009, and programs like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, education is still legally compulsory for only 6 to 14 year-olds, and millions of children especially those from rural, tribal and marginalised communities either do not enroll, or simply drop out after a short period says UNICEF
As an NGO working directly with children in the remote villages of West Bengal and beyond, we have seen this firsthand: children walk for miles to attend school, only to arrive and find no teacher, or a teacher who themselves, by fourth grade, have little or no understanding of basic literacy. This is why writing this is so important not to only raise awareness, but to highlight what is working, share stories of progress, and provide recommendations to anyone with a commitment to providing every child an opportunity to get a fair start to their education.
What are the primary obstacles to child education in India?
Below are significant challenges based on empirical data and field exposure:
- Educational disadvantage at early child education: Data shows between 15.7% of rural children ages 3-5 attend pre-primary (nursery/kindergarten) compared to ~35% in urban settings. SpringerOpen
- Out-of-school children and drop-out: Approximately 36% of both girls and boys drop out without completing full elementary education.
- Socio-economic & caste/tribe biases: Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and households from poorer economic conditions are significantly less likely to access quality pre-school or pre-school services.
- Infrastructure and teacher shortages: Many educational institutions, particularly rural or remote areas, have inadequate basic provision, or a single teacher for many grades, affecting student learning outcome. Based on our own field work, we report decaying classrooms, inconsistent attendance and poor foundational learning (reading, basic numeracy) among students in Grades 1-3.
Why is early childhood education important in India?
Brain development for ages 3 to 6 years of age happens very quickly: cognitive, social, and emotional development takes place at this stage of life. If you miss it, you will find it much more difficult to catch up later.
According to a study, for children in this age group in India, only 32% are in the reach of public early childhood education (ECE) services. The Times of India
Good quality ECE helps kids become prepared for school, lowers dropouts, and contributes to overall academic future success. In our experience, children that have engaged regularly in a preschool or playgroup community experience in preparation for grade 1 are entering grade 1 with increased confidence, better awareness of letters and numbers, increased curiosity and better social ability.
What models and success stories exist for improving child education in India?
These originate from NGOs, government schemes, programs, and our own work in the field:
- Government Policies and Schemes : Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) significantly improved enrollment in elementary education while helping displace out-of-school children. Wikipedia
- Midday Meal Scheme (PM-POSHAN) : This addresses nutrition, attendance, and dropout rates by providing free lunches to millions of school children.
- Pratham: Known for conducting the ASER survey that assesses learning outcomes in rural districts; their interventions have supported children who were falling behind in learning basic reading & math skills.
- Ekal Vidyalaya: Non-formal schools in tribal and remote villages that use local youth for teachers and are community funded which encourages linkages, flexible learning styles and supports community involvement. Wikipedia
Field Story (Our Experience)
In a group of villages in rural West Bengal in the area we work, when we started children in the ages of 5-6 did not even recognize letters with common sounds, or count beyond 20. We developed a community play-centre model that included games, storytelling, included mothers, and offered peer learning options. Within 6 months, children who were entering the first grade could recite the alphabet, recognize shapes and numbers, and social confidence emerged. Local teachers who were supporting this process reported that children transitioned to school better and had less absenteeism.
What best practices can improve child education across India?
These are steps that are both field based and evidence informed:
- Universal Access to Early Childhood Education
In rural or tribal areas, early childhood education (ECE) centers should be expanded. Access to preschool/kindergarten should be made available and affordable, or free. Trained community facilitators can run ECE in local communities.
- Learning Outcomes, not Enrollment
Use assessment tools, such as school reports or ASER, to track children’s skills in reading, and arithmetic in the early years of primary. When children’s learning outcomes are poor, remedial education should target those issues.
- Strengthen Teacher Training and Teacher Support
Teacher preparation must be in child-centered pedagogy, multilingual instruction, inclusion, etc. Teacher training does not end in pre-service, or in-service training or teacher large-scale professional development. Mentorship, peer support, and on-going coaching are very important.
- Utilize Community Engagement
Community involvement from parents, local leaders, and mothers’ groups. If the community understands the value of education, attendance will improve.
- Provide Infrastructure & Resources
Good classrooms, safe classroom space, clean water, toilets with privacy for girls, reading and learning materials. For very early grades, oral, visual, and play materials are crucial.
- Political & Funding Commitment
The government must provide sufficient funding and all the policies that result in free and compulsory education. Politically, the government should monitor its implementation. Civil Society could be a watchdog.
Which NGOs are helping transform child education in India?
Pratham: well known for enhancing children’s learning outcomes in rural areas. Wikipedia
Ekal Vidyalaya: operates in tribal and remote villages with non-formal schools. Wikipedia
Bachpan Bachao Andolan: not only works to fight child labour but assists once the children are freed to reintegrate them into education. Wikipedia
Salaam Baalak Trust: works to assist street and working children in education, life skills and counselling. Wikipedia
From our NGOs perspective it supports whomever we partner with NGO to learn, to minimise duplication, and to scale up what is working.
What lessons have we learned from our experiences in West Bengal?
- In rural West Bengal, when we introduced mobile learning camps (via tablets with a local facilitator), in villages where there was low school attendance, children were more engaged.
- When we train the children’s mothers or guardians in learning at home (simple activities, storytelling, number games), even children from low income households show improved vocabulary, less absence, more readiness.
- Local peer mentoring (older siblings, village youth) supports school learning and keeping children at school.
How can individuals support education for children in India?
- Volunteer with local NGOs serve as a mentor, reading buddy, or coordinate community learning camps.
- Donate to programs that focus on early childhood, remedial and girl child education.
- Raise awareness in your community: parents and local leaders must appreciate the importance of foundational learning.
- Support policy engage with local government, advocate for infrastructure, budgets and trained teachers.
What does a vision of affected & quality education for every child look like?
We believe that every child regardless of where she is born, regardless of the modesty of her home, for every child whether in the hills, forest, or slum serves more than to be in school. She deserves more than to just be enrolled in school. She deserves quality learning, the joys of discovery, confidence, safety, and dignity. Our experience demonstrates that when toddlers are welcomed into early learning settings, when communities are invested into, when policies are resourced, and practical implementation is conducted, that is when transformation takes place.
If we make a collective commitment to NGOs, government, communities, and your child, education in India can be different from being a challenge, posed as the greatest legacy. Let’s ensure children are not only at school, but learning, thriving, and building a future.