PressInformationBureau

GovernmentofIndia
MinistryofFinance
27February201512:16IST

ImprovementinFemaleLiteracyandEducationalChallenges
There has been a marked improvement in female literacy as per Census 2011. Though the male
literacyisstillhigherat80.9percentthanfemaleliteracyat64.6percent,theincreasehasbeen10.9
percent compared to 5.6 percent of the males. The new Scheme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, for
promoting survival protection and education of girl child aims to address the issue of declining
figuresthroughamasscampaigntargetedatchangingsocialmindsetandcreatingawareness.The
right of Children to free and compulsory Education (RCE) act 2009 implemented under Sarv
ShikshaAbhiyanaimedtoincreasethequalityaswellasaccessibilityofelementaryEducationin
India.
Economic Survey points out that the overall Standard of Education in India is below global
Standards. The Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) which measures the
knowledgeandskillsof15yearoldshasratedTamilNaduandHimachalPradeshonlyhigherto
other States in the Country. There is a considerable scope for PostSecondary Education and
TrainingSystem,aswellasforplaces,toimprovetheProficiencyofyoungPeople.
The inadequacy of human capital at the base of the pyramid leading to a huge backlog in basic
skillsputbecomeabigimpedimentinIndiasgrowthasaresultofthechangingdemographyand
decliningchildpopulation.ThePadheBharatBadheBharatinitiativetocreateabaseforreading,
writing, and math fluency can be effective if the local administration is fully involved and
sensitizedinit.
Indiahasabout100millionyoungpeopleintheagegroupof1518years,majorityofwhichcould
land up in unorganized sector as there are educational and age requirement for entry into most
vocational skills Programmes. There is a need for research into the type of knowledge or skills
requiredtoaddressthisissue.
Inordertobuildcapacityinsecondaryschoolsonparwithexpandedprimaryenrolments,several
schemes like the MidDay Meal scheme, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, Model School
Scheme and Saakshar Bharat/Adult Education have also been implemented in the country. To
strengthenthecadreofteachereducatorsbyprovidingearlycareerchoicetoprospectiveteachers
andtofillthevacanciesinteachereducationinstitutions,anewfouryearintegratedprogramme,
i.e.BA./Bed,andBSc./Bed.hasbeenintroduced.
TheIndianhighereducationsystemisoneofthelargestintheworldwith713universities,36,739
colleges,and11,343diplomalevelinstitutions.TomakeHigherEducationtobefuturisticenvision
areasthatwillgeneratefutureemploymentopportunities,thereisaneedtomatchthesupplywith
demandanddovetaileducationpolicytoemploymentopportunities.
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DSM/BK/IA