Universalization of elementary education

Namrata Bhowmik

Universalization of elementary education means that the government provides free and compulsory education to children between the ages of 6 and 14. The only aim of this movement is to make education accessible among children everywhere until they are 14 years of age.   Issues  in Universalization of Primary Education:   1. Universal Access through Universal Provision of School Facilities 2. Universal Enrolment of Children 3. Universal Retention 4. Universal Achievement 5. Problem of Qualitative Improvement of Education   1. Universal Access through Universal Provision of School Facilities:   It means that elementary schooling is to be provided to all children between the age group of 6-14 years in the country and that a school should be within easy walking distance from the home of the child. It enables the parents to send their children to school. There are still some backward and remote areas where efforts to open schools are underway. It should, however, be noted that with the growth of population, there is a need for more and more primary schools to be opened. 2. Universal Enrolment of Children:   It means that all children in the age group of 6-14 years should be enrolled in primary schools. The Kothari Commission feels that the problem of enrolment in class 1 is of great significance. To achieve this end, states have brought into force the Compulsory Primary Education Act.    But the problem of universal enrolment in rural areas is more complicated due to the following reasons: (i) Ignorance and illiteracy of parents. (ii) Lack of coordination between school and local community, (iii) Indifferent attitude of high officers and school authorities towards the desired enrolment. (i) Lack of adequate funds (v) Poverty of Parents 3. Universal Retention: After the enrolment of the students in a school is over, it is essential to see their progress in successive years. In other words, we must see that there is no stagnation in the school. Again we must see that the child does not leave the school before completion of prescribed courses so that there will be no wastage in education. 4. Universal Achievement: Universal retention is a pre-condition for the universal achievement of targets. If a child leaves or withdraws himself from school before completion, it leads to wastage in education which creates another serious problem for the achievement of the target. 5. Problem of Qualitative Improvement of Education: Universalization of compulsory primary education has failed to achieve the target because the quality of primary education has not been maintained properly.

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