Topic: ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY

EDUCATION

Team Members:

Introduction Primary Education in India

The World Education Forum, held in 2000 set an ambitious goal: universal primary education by the year 2015. Schooling all children until they reach young adulthood is recognized as important because it leads to many substantial positive effects Globally, however, more than 115 million children of primary school age do not attend school.

Primary Education in India

The constitution of India supports the right of universal education until age 14 and has had a long-standing goal of free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of six and 14. However, India remains a land of contradictions. Despite a vibrant emerging economy and a string of excellent colleges that produce high caliber professionals, India has not made the grade yet on primary education.

CHALLENGES THAT HINDERS THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION

A large teacher pupil ratio (about 50 to 100 pupil to a teacher instead of 35 pupils to a teacher) Lack of motivation for teachers in the primary schools High poverty levels in the country Climate/environment conditions of the primary schools Corruption levels in the system

CHALLENGES THAT HINDERS THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION

The early entry age into primary schools Child labour issue in the country Poor government policy implementation Gender disparities in the primary schools The dominance of theoretical nature of th curriculum for the primary schools

SUGGESTED INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION Special scholarships for those interested in teaching in the primary schools Effective parent/teacher associations and school management committees put in place Incentives such as car and housing loans to primary school teachers Increment of the salaries of the teachers in the primary schools

SUGGESTED INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION Awards for best teachers in the primary schools Effective performance appraisal systems put in place Community participation in the provision of infrastructure facilities The content of the curriculum should be more practical based than that of theoretical

SUGGESTED INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION Teaching of ICT in the primary schools be enhanced Teaching and learning should be participatory in the primary schools Government should provide enough capitation grants to the primary schools There should be free school feeding programe to all the primary school pupils

SUGGESTED INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION

There should be international standard of school going age (at least 6 years) Those who are entrusted with funds for the enhancement of the primary schools should be made accountable to the people There should be bottom-up approach to the government policies of the primary schools The role models in the society must be show cased for the primary school pupils

THE FUTURE OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN INDIA

The importance of universal primary education has now been widely recognized by everyone involved. Policies and pledges are easy to make but implementation can be difficult and goals hard to achieve, especially in a vast and populous country such as India. International agencies, the government of India, and the numerous NGOs will have to work together with will, wisdom and tremendous energy to make their desire for universal primary education by 2015 a reality in India.

Thank You!