Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part A (2021)

Education is the fundamental element required to achieve human potential and the develop an equitable and just society. There is a need to provide education to all sections of society, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, religion etc. The new National Education Policy 2020 states that gender based bias often affects an individual's ability to develop and hampers the nation’s growth, innovation and progress.

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the architect of Indian constitution, also believed in measuring the progress of a community by the degree of progress which its women have achieved. Government should, therefore, ensure equal opportunity to learn and excel for all Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).

In the present context the gap between learning outcomes and what is required must be bridged by undertaking major reforms that bring the highest quality, equity and integrity into the education system from kindergarten to higher education.

The constitution of India has provided equal rights and opportunities to men and women. Despite several policies at the Centre and state level women continue to face many hurdles in education. Under the fast changing conditions in the country in recent times, increased attention is being paid to education of women but problems still persist. Besides sociological issues, infrastructure and ground level problems make women's education an uphill task. The problems include availability of safe transport, lack of financial support, lack of social consciousness, lack of proper facilities, unwillingness of female teachers to serve in rural areas and lack of enthusiasm and interest of those in charge of education.

These hardships obstruct the wave of change in society. An objective evaluation of earlier efforts is required so that better and more effective approaches can be used. The government must work with a strong will power to provide better infrastructure, environment, funds, curriculum, teachers training and other necessities.

A survey recently released by the Ministry of Health found that there is a direct relationship between the nutritional status of children and the education of their mothers. Many development economists too have studied subject how better education enables women to emerge as change agents.