Event reports
Education clearly differentiates developed the society from the undeveloped society. Development and economic prosperity of a nation depends to a large extent on the ability of a nation to educate its people.
The role of education therefore is to lead the society in new directions.‘How to put education in this role’ is one of the biggest challenges of this century. The Government of India and various State Governments and even private institutions involved in education and realizing this have taken several new initiatives in the last two decades. These include the introduction of new programmes, new contents, new Curricula, better infrastructure and the increase in a number of institutions providing education. Recently the Right to Education up to 14 years of age is included in the list of fundamental rights. The Government of India is thinking of making secondary education also compulsory.
According to the Census of India – 2011, the literacy rate is 74% with a female literacy rate of 65%. Out of this only 10.2 %( 2005-06) of those enrolled for secondary education enter in higher education. The aim is not only to make education available, but also to make it more accesible to the society to guarantee its sustainable development.
This time, the JSDP participants discussed the interlinkages of education and holistic development and the role that civil society can play in promoting the educational process. The main focus of the deliberations was on the future development requirements and the latest initiatives on education. A special focus was also on the “Right to Education Act” which was adopted in 2010.