Question

Universalisation of elementary education and compulsory education was prepared by

Answer 1

India is a democratic country. Today adult franchise has been granted to every individual irrespective of caste, creed, religion and sex. Unless the people of India grow in enlightened judgment and character, the democratic ideals cannot be made a living reality. India has been a land of learning throughout the ages, not in the sense that education has been universal, but in the sense that learning has always been highly valued.

It is interesting to watch pageant of Indian education more from ancient forest schools to the modem and fully- equipped schools of today. It is against the background that every problem of education in primary, secondary and higher education must be studied.

Primary education deserves the highest priority for arising the competence of the average worker and for increasing National productivity. The provision for Universal Elementary Education is crucial for spreading mass literacy, which is a basic requirement for economic development, modernization of social structure and the effective functioning of democratic institution. It also represents an indispensable first step towards the provisions of equality of opportunity to all citizens.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

The Constitution of Independent India provides for free and compulsory education for all children up to the age. Of 14 years. Article of 45 of the Directive Principles of State Policy lays down,” The State shall endeavour to provide, within ten years from the commencement of the Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they attain the age of 14 years.”

Though ambitious targets of enrolment have been fixed from time to time to fulfil this directive, the desirable goal is still far from our reach. In-spite of the unpredicted progress made after independence it has not been possible to realize the goal. So the Constitutional directive has not yet been realized because of the number of problems and issues.