2023

DVA 1502 ASSIGNMENT 1

Educational inequality is the unequal distribution of academic resources, including but
not limited to school funding, qualified and experienced teachers, books, and
technologies, to socially excluded communities. These communities tend to be
historically disadvantaged and oppressed. Individuals belonging to these marginalized
groups are often denied access to schools with adequate resources. Inequality leads to
major differences in the educational success or efficiency of these individuals and
ultimately suppresses social and economic mobility. Inequality in education is broken
down in different types: regional inequality, inequality by sex, inequality by social
stratification,inequality by parental income, inequality by parent occupation, and many
more.

The importance of education in development

Education is an overall process of not only personal growth but also an enriching growth
of society and nation. It is the foundation of development of any nation. Educated youth
have the ability to think beyond their stagnating lives and contribute to the development
of their societies. Education arms individuals with the knowledge of their rights and
duties. It is informed citizenry which forms the base for the development of any society.
If the people are educated, they can easily contribute to the national economy because
they can better know the economic principles and rules.

India still lives in its villages. The seeds of education must find their way to villages. The
‘Adult Education Programme’ and ‘National Rural Education Programme’ still have a
long distance to cover. By opening more primary schools in villages, we can not only
curb the problem of migration by creating novel opportunities in village, but also educate
farmers on knowledge of right seeds and fertilisers. This may lead to better yield and
could end our reliance on the import of wheat, rice and other essential commodities.
The quality of education needs better monitoring in both rural and urban India.
Awareness programmes for education must be carried out with more zeal and vigour.
The Central Government’s scheme ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ needs a massive boost. 
Education for all should be the primary focus. Our government expenditure on
education is mere 2.8% of Gross Domestic Product, as against the generally-accepted
norm of 6% or even above in the developed world. More innovative and scientific
development programmes should be launched, like Skill Acquisition and Knowledge
Awareness for Livelihood Promotion programme (SANKALP), Skill Strengthening for
Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE), etc.

Along with driving self-sufficiency, education provides awareness. This awareness

about the rights creates responsible citizens and responsible citizens can demand
responsible and accountable governance. Education in the field of IT has opened a
galaxy of opportunities in urban India with jobs in software, call centres and BPO’s
ushering in a revolution of sorts. The services sector, in this backdrop, is proving a
significant contributor to the growth of economy. This knowledge hub has attracted large
investments from several countries.  The emphasis of government on technical
education also highlights the commitment to drive excellence in areas of research and
manufacturing.

Education plays a critical role in the democratic setup where an educated voter can
make an informed choice. The voice of ballots gets translated into the fate of the voters
through the levels of governance delivered. The policies charting the course of
development of society get their nod from the representatives of people.  Roads, ports,
telecom, irrigation, industries, agriculture all demand simultaneous attention for a
wholesome and inclusive development. Targeted policies in all these sectors must
perform in unison for a balanced development to occur.

More number of higher education institutions and universities will create a breed of
individuals who are capable to chart their future in a growing economy. Education gives
a level of confidence which capacitates individuals to compete globally and assert
themselves. Such individuals become national asset with their contribution to the growth
story of the nation. Through the entrepreneurial spirit they are able to create jobs and
set up corporate empires to employ people. This employment generation goes a long
way in raising the quality of life of several families. It is, thus, a positive spread effect
which becomes possible from the seeds of education.

Swami Vivekananda said, “The education which does not help the common mass of
people to equip themselves for the struggle of life, which does not bring out strength of
character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage of a lion—is it worth its name? Real
education is that which enables one to stand on ones’ legs”. Education plays a
significant role in the life of a nation and importance in a country like India cannot be
underestimated. The character and quality of the people greatly depend on the
education imparted to them at different levels.  Rich empires may rise and fall in a
stroke but those with firm rooted educational groundings have an element of
sustainability.  This ensures their survival for ages.

One of the most important benefits of education is that it helps to meet the objectives of
life. Right education with dedication can help to accomplish the same. Getting a
professional degree is the only way to excel in different business domains such as
Engineering, Medicine and Accounting. By enrolling in the course of your choice, it is
not only possible to enhance the skill level but also the professional expertise. People
who are educated can access a lot of opportunities. People with high intellectual wealth
also enjoy good social status in society. Therefore, we can say that education is
probably the most valuable aspect of life.  It brings about evolution in the way we think
and conduct ourselves, which improves life and living. Education gives people the skills
they need to help themselves out of poverty or, in other words, into prosperity. There is
huge difference between educated and uneducated persons. An uneducated person
cannot show his ideas and skills better than an educated person.

A holistic development of society is only said to occur when the material wealth is
complemented by cultural, social and educational achievements. These are reflected in
art, architecture, music, writings and the heritage of that society. All great civilisations of
the world, which are remembered as developed, had attained that zenith on the basis of
importance accorded to education in those societies. The Romans, the Egyptians or
closer home, Magadha or any empire for that matter boasted of rich lineage of scholars
and universities which built a solid intellectual foundation and a progressive outlook for
the society.

Education not only provides an opportunity for development in numerous spheres but
also contributes to the standard of living. Education of our culture and values should not
take a back seat in this era of modernisation. We must encourage at all levels an
understanding of our tradition as part of our education, for a holistic development. The
effectiveness of this can be seen in people to people contacts with our neighbouring
country, which help us to enhance our international relations.

Education has been part and parcel of human life ever since antiquity because it implies
cultivation of the mind to make life tolerable and the acquisition of skills for making it
possible. Today, education has become the basic necessity of human beings, as
education equips them with the knowledge necessary to face the challenges of life.
Nelson Mandela aptly said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can
use to change the world”.  Education, today, is the foundation on which the pillars of
modern society rest. There is no denying the fact that in today’s competitive era
education has become a major part not only for human kind but also for a country’s
development because it plays an important role in social and economic progress. If a
person wants to get success and progress in his life, he should be educated. In the
same way, if a nation wants development, the country must have more developed
education and educated people. Education should remain the focus of governments,
ahead of their political agendas. Not only more policies but their effective
implementation are also essential to the latter. Some modifications in our educational
system are required to encourage talent-based and growth-oriented teachings. This
would be a welcome step.
Causes of educational inequalities

Inequity is perhaps the most serious problem in education worldwide. It has multiple causes,
and its consequences include differences in access to schooling, retention and, more
importantly, learning. Globally, these differences correlate with the level of development of
various countries and regions. In individual States, access to school is tied to, among other
things, students' overall well-being, their social origins and cultural backgrounds, the
language their families speak, whether or not they work outside of the home and, in some
countries, their sex. Although the world has made progress in both absolute and relative
numbers of enrolled students, the differences between the richest and the poorest, as well
as those living in rural and urban areas, have not diminished.1

These correlations do not occur naturally. They are the result of the lack of policies that
consider equity in education as a principal vehicle for achieving more just societies. The
pandemic has exacerbated these differences mainly due to the fact that technology, which is
the means of access to distance schooling, presents one more layer of inequality, among
many others.

The causes of educational inequity

There are many explanations for educational inequity. In my view, the most important ones
are the following:

1. Equity and equality are not the same thing. Equality means providing the same
resources to everyone. Equity signifies giving more to those most in need.
Countries with greater inequity in education results are also those in which
governments distribute resources according to the political pressure they
experience in providing education. Such pressures come from families in which
the parents attended school, that reside in urban areas, belong to cultural
majorities and who have a clear appreciation of the benefits of education. Much
 less pressure comes from rural areas and indigenous populations, or from
impoverished urban areas. In these countries, fewer resources, including
infrastructure, equipment, teachers, supervision and funding, are allocated to the
disadvantaged, the poor and cultural minorities.
2. Teachers are key agents for learning. Their training is crucial.  When insufficient
priority is given to either initial or in-service teacher training, or to both, one can
expect learning deficits. Teachers in poorer areas tend to have less training and
to receive less in-service support.
3. Most countries are very diverse. When a curriculum is overloaded and is the
same for everyone, some students, generally those from rural areas, cultural
minorities or living in poverty find little meaning in what is taught. When the
language of instruction is different from their native tongue, students learn much
less and drop out of school earlier.
4. Disadvantaged students frequently encounter unfriendly or overtly offensive
attitudes from both teachers and classmates. Such attitudes are derived from
prejudices, stereotypes, outright racism and sexism. Students in hostile
environments are affected in their disposition to learn, and many drop out early.