Hyderabad: The world marks the first-ever International Day of Education on 24 January which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly last year to highlight the role of education in bringing world peace and sustainable development. UNESCO is making an attempt to bring all the countries where the importance of education in achieving sustainable development goals can be attained.
Theme for 2020
This year theme for International Day of Education is 'Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace,’ which highlights the amalgamated nature of education and its rational approach. Education is the revolving axis through which collective development objectives can be achieved.
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This year's theme talks about framing a goal which will ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all. Apart from this, it also deals with all the essential means to speed up the progress required to meet the targets of all 17 sustainable development goals.
Gandhi's principle of Education
Mahatma Gandhi said that 'By education, I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in child's and man's body, mind and spirit. Literacy is neither the beginning nor the end of education. This is only a means through which man or woman can be educated.' Let's take a look at what our Father of Nation has to say on this developmental tool.
1. Every child from seven to fourteen years of age should be given free and compulsory education which should happen globally.
2. The medium of instruction should be mother-tongue.
3. Equalizing mere literacy with education is not enough. Education should make use of craft as it's medium which in turn will help the child to procure self-sufficiency.
4. The main idea of education should be to inculcate human values and integrity.
5. Education should create useful, responsible and dynamic citizens. It should have the ability to evolve all the hidden powers and talent of a child in accordance with the community of which he is an integral part.
6. With education, a proportionate and harmonious development of the child's body, mind, heart and soul should be attained.
7. Transmission of education should take into account some useful and productive craft and industry. Balance has to be established with the industry through which children can achieve gainful work experience through practical work.
8. Education should be made self-supporting through some productive work and it should lead to economic independence and self-reliance for livelihood.
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Less education, more disputes
Recent studies including data from 100 countries over 50 years reveal that countries with wider education gaps tend to indulge in more conflicts and disputes. A survey done by UNESCO states that if all people completed secondary education as mentioned in Sustainable Development Goal 4 half of the world's poverty would come down to half. UNESCO Director Audrey Azoulay in her statement said that 'Education is the most powerful force in our hands to ensure significant improvements in health, to stimulate economic growth, to unlock the potential and innovation we need to
build more resilient and sustainable societies'. Keeping forward her point, Azoulay says that education has a key role in development which is capable of bringing a change.
Most teenagers struggle to read
The 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results declared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicate that global education crisis exists. A comparative survey of learning outcomes in the participating countries reveals shocking results. Isn't it sad to know that over 10 million children were not able to finish even the most basic reading tasks? What is even more frightful is that those struggling with basic reading were 15-year-old children in 79 high- and middle-income countries.
Education-a path to promising future
Education acts as a guiding light to show the children ladder out of poverty and promises them a bright future. But what about 265 million children and adolescents across the globe do not have the opportunity to enter or complete school? It's devastating to know that around 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic mathematics. Study shows that less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school.
How much should the Indian govt spend on education?
Children being denied basic education rights is nothing new in India. The question now arises that how much should the Indian Government spend on education. National Education Policy 2019 favours 20% of total public expenditure to be spent on education. According to the Observer Research Foundation's (ORF) estimate the sub-national level scenario of public education in our nation, Delhi is the best performer in terms of quality education. However, ASER 2019 (Annual Status of education report ) finds that more than 90% of children in the 4-8 age group are enrolled in some type of educational institution. This proportion increases with age, from 91.3% of all 4-year-olds to 99.5% of all 8-year-olds.
India has a long way to go
No doubt that India has made substantial progress in getting children enrolled in schools but this has not led to children getting a quality education. A typical student in India is at least two grades behind the level expected for their age in literacy and numeracy. Our country has a long way to go where our kids can dream of a bright future. Studies reveal that 4-year-olds and more than a quarter of all 5-year-olds are enrolled in Anganwadis, have far lower levels of cognitive skill and foundational ability than their counterparts in private LKG/UKG classes.
Enrolment patterns differ
Boys and girls have different enrolment patterns with a higher proportion of girls enrolled in government institutions and a higher proportion of boys in private institutions. These differences grow larger as children get older. What we need to understand that expectation from a child varies across the country. For instance, at age 5 what we offer to and expect from children varies enormously across the country depending on state norms for entry to school. As a result, what a 5-year-old is doing depends largely on where she lives. If we talk about the various states in Thrissur, Kerala, 89.9% of 5-year-olds are in a pre-primary grade and almost all the rest are in Std I. But on the other hand, in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, just 65.8% are in pre-
school, 9.8% are in Std I, and 16% are in Std II. In Satna, Madhya Pradesh, 47.7% are in pre-school, 40.5% are in Std I, and 4.1% are in Std II.
Education is one of the most important tools for any nation to prosper and develop. We aim at achieving objectives like gender equality and eradicating the poverty in which millions of children, youth and adults are left behind. In order to establish an impeccable society, inclusive and equitable quality education along with lifelong opportunities is the need of the hour.
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