Education is not a special right but a fundamental right. Under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, the Right to Education Act (RTE Act) makes education free and compulsory for children aged between 6 and 14 years. However, this right must not be a nominal right; its aim must be to provide every child with full and complete development by Class 12. School- level education forms the foundation of any child’s life, which shapes their economic and social development. Despite this, lakhs of children in India’s villages are deprived of this basic right.

In our country, there is a need for a different policy for education in rural areas as compared to cities because the education sector here is completely different from the challenges and needs of urban areas. There is a lack of infrastructure in villages, there is also a lack of trained teachers and digital connectivity is also weak here. To overcome these problems, a different policy is required. To bring about change in reality, education policies will have to be made according to local conditions.

Lacking Education in Rural India
More students could be taken out of schools due to schemes like mid-day meal, but the core issues of lacking quality education in rural India still persist.

Surveys every year indicate that large numbers of students in Classes 5 to 8 cannot read even Class 2 books or perform simple arithmetic.

There are a number of reasons for this: inadequate school buildings, absence of trained teachers, archaic methods of teaching, and absence of resistance. Rural schools also have no toilets, electricity, drinking water and proper rooms. In some areas, a teacher has to teach children of various classes together.

Girls have various issues: no separate toilets, safety issues, child marriage, and the burden of domestic work. All these contribute to a significantly increased dropout rate after primary school, particularly at secondary school.

Passing the right and reforming the system

Giving quality education to all children up to Class 12 is possible only if we reconstruct the system, where the child’s centre and community are kept in mind while work is done.

1. 1. Improving School Infrastructure for Better Learning
      A supportive learning environment begins with strong school infrastructure. There is a great need to improve the condition of school buildings in rural areas. For the safety of students and to make a healthy environment for studies, it is necessary to rebuild these school buildings. In many rural areas, schools still lack basic facilities like well-constructed classrooms, libraries, science laboratories, playgrounds, and digital tools such as computers or smart classrooms. These deficiencies hinder the overall development and motivation of students.
   2. Ensuring Essential Facilities for Student Well-being
      Along with improving the infrastructure in schools, it is also necessary to have some essential facilities. For girls in particular, the lack of clean and safe toilets remains a major barrier to regular attendance and retention. Under the Government policies, it is mandatory to have sanitary pads for girls in every rural school, but in most schools, this is not available. Facilities are not available. There is a great need to pay attention to these subjects as well. This is also a major reason for the non-attendance and drop out of girls in school.
   3. Investing in Teachers to Strengthen Rural Education
      There is a shortage of well educated and well trained teachers in rural schools. A good teacher is the backbone of the education system. It is very essential that only qualified teachers are recruited, who, besides imparting subject knowledge to the children, can also impart them knowledge of extra curricular activities and life skills. To attract and retain such talented teachers, they should also be given respectable salaries and facilities.
   4. Reforming the Syllabus for Holistic Learning
      Study should not mean finishing the syllabus alone but should be made result-oriented. Frequent evaluation, assistance to weak students, and activity- based study approaches should be followed.
      The syllabus needs to be made flexible and its focus should be on the development of critical thinking, creativity and practical skills. To manage education well in schools, it is also very important to emphasize on experiential learning and regular feedback. This will help the students understand the concepts better. Efforts should be made in such a way that students, along with understanding the subject knowledge, also develop the ability to use it in real life.
   5. Integrating Technology for Smarter Learning
      The distance of technology can be decreased. Initiatives such as computer laboratories, intelligent classrooms, and “Education Vans” in rural areas can enhance digital literacy. Through Education Vans we can reach remote areas and teach children about computers and other subjects there. Trained teachers will help children understand the subject.Along with devices and cheap internet access in computer laboratories, a trained trainer is also required. For effective use of technology in the teaching methods, it is also very important to train teachers in schools at the right time.

Paths of progress and improvement
India’s aspirations start from the school classrooms. School- level education, particularly in rural India, must be holistic and child- centered. We have to work in tandem so that the right to education is not restricted to attending school, but encompasses actual learning and transformation of life, right from the first day of school until Class 12 is completed.

When all children, not matter their caste, gender, or where they live, get proper education, then and only then will we have a powerful, equitable, and progressive nation.

Views are personal

The author is CEO & Founder of the Aahwahan Foundation