CURRENT SITUATION OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN INDIA

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CURRENT SITUATION OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN
INDIAFree and compulsory education to all
children up to the age of fourteen years is a
Constitutional mandate in India. Elementary
education in India is a fundamental right. Till
1960, all efforts were focused on provision of
schooling facilities. It is realization of the
goal of access that other mechanism of elementary
education such as universal enrolment, retention
and the quality of education has become the
primary focus of planners and policy makers in
the country.
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The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for All
Movement) is a flagship programme of the
Government of India, initiated in 2000-01 to
universalize elementary education has achieved a
great milestone. Interventions by the Indian
government under the programme aimed at
increasing the number of schools, ensuring that
schools have drinking water and toilets,
providing effective training to teachers and
improving learning outcomes. Under the SSA,
special focus on providing access to education to
disadvantaged groups, minorities and girls, who
are often left behind was also emphasized.
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Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has come a long way
achieving the followingOut of School children
number has been brought down significantly (8
million in 2009, 3   million in 2012).Big boost
to additional schools -195,000 Primary and more
than 100,000 Upper Primary   schools
sanctioned.2 million additional teacher posts.
Today we have teachers with proper professional  
qualifications for teaching.Girls admission
improved dramatically. Gender parity is
achieved.The scheme supports 200 million
children in 1.4 million schools in the
country.Today there is a primary school within 1
Km distance of most children and almost every  
child is in school (Enrolment rates have gone up
to 93-95 in most parts of the   country).
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Fascinatingly, private investment in education
has also gone up in the country. Estimates say
that 27 of all the children are in private
schools. In urban areas this ratio is 50. With
more urbanisation happening, the future of
private schooling looks good. Therefore, in an
appropriate way private schools have also
contributed to universalise education in
India.India has done laudable work in
universalizing primary education. The issue of
access to schools and enrolment has been nearly
resolved. In this scenario, the role of non-state
actors has become significant. The country
provides a balanced platform for a big role by
private players in education. India looks forward
to see the result of the interplay of the
combined efforts of innovators and private
players together play a major role in primary
education alongside the Government.