The history of girl’s education in India is not easy to tell, and perhaps that is why it has been termed the nightmare of India. Ladies; education especially for girls became a demand more so in India after the section of the British Parliament. In the early years, it was only childless girls who were admitted to the schools, their parents had been converted to Christianity. The center did not exclude a child from attending any class due to age they held classes for all ages. The missionaries were not unaware of the goals they had to pursue while establishing girls’ schools. As soon as the Christian missionaries started their work in India they were forced to notice that “no permanent and of course no Christian society could be established where women are incapable of instructing the young. However, the Punjab education charity is making a real and big difference in the lives of many children.
Historical Context
Before India gained its independence the education system was more unfavorable to boys and did not include the lower caste children. Girls particularly those from low-income families were barred from going to school on grounds of early marriage and childbearing hence the rooted culture of patriarchy that favored homemaking over education. The activism of the women fighters including Savitribai Phule and Jyotirao Phule who opened schools for girls and also fought against untouchability.
Post-Independence: Laying the Foundation
When India became independent in 1947, the government realized the need for education among the populace, especially girl children. The Indian constitution provides that the right to education be made available for every child and provides for equality in the rights of the sexes. For all these commitments were not easy to perform the path was filled with obstacles. In the pre-revolutionary period, the literacy rate of women was only 8%. For instance, the literacy rate of women was 86% in the year 1951 which shows how gender prejudiced society is.
Key Milestones in Girls Education
National Policy on Education (1986): This policy was a turning point, especially toward the eradication of gender disparities in access to education. It resulted in the launching of various programs to enhance the enrollment of girls in school.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (2001): This nationwide program meant for universalization of elementary education had a significant role in enhancing the status of the girl child with education. To be specific, the program aimed at the construction of schools in remote areas and ensuring free textbooks and a proper environment for the girl child.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (2015): Launched by the Government of India, this campaign focused on preventing gender-biased sex-selective elimination and ensuring the education and survival of the girl child. It brought significant attention to the issue and fostered community-level support for girls’ education.
Challenges and Barriers
Still, there are quite some challenges that hinder girls’ education in India even to this date. Forboding customs in marriage, poor economies, and early marriage are some of the factors that limit girls’ education in schools especially in the countryside. Some of the other factors that lead to high dropout rates include a lack of safety and or poor hygiene facilities in school especially for teenage girls. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic made the above difficulties even worse because girls were expelled from school because their families could not afford to keep them in school or they did not have access to online schooling.
Government and politics
Daily, the government of Punjab is expanding the programs that pertain to the development of Girls’ Education as the state of Punjab Education Charity has improved a number of its ranks in various sectors because of Girls’ achievement rates despite high education. Search results in Punjab for girls’ degree colleges will be approx 879. All the states of India constitute a parliamentary style of government with an official state head- governor, who is appointed by the President of India.
Civil Society and Non-governmental Organisations
Over the years, nongovernmental organizations and civil society including have played important roles in enhancing girls’ education in India. Some of the organizations that include Pratham, Room to Read, and Educate Girls have developed various creative interventions to not only enroll the girls in school but also reach out to them with good quality education. These harbor of initiatives have comprised of; Addressing the community schooling girl, and supporting the cause through advocacy.
Impact of Girls Education in the Society
It shapes not only the future socio-cultural development of the country but is also important in the process of developing, transforming, and defining the character or rather the attitude and tendency of the future generations of the country. Since Punjab is a transition country in a rehabilitative phase fundamental queries like the costs and benefits of educating girls need to be addressed. A wealth of education literature supports the assertion that education has spillover and contagion effects, and is evidence of a progressive society to embraces the education of the girl child. Punjab is young in as much as it is a new country and out of its total population, more than two-thirds are below the age of 25 years.
A Road Map for the Next Generation
To continue the growth that has already been observed in girls’ education, the existing challenges must be combated in an all-embracing way. This involves the construction of school facilities and buildings, protection of girl child from early marriages, formulation and adoption of policies that check early marriages, and provision of scholarships and incentives to the girl child so that they can continue with their education. Moreover, it is also important to transform cultural mindset to resist the repression of girls’ education.
Conclusion
The struggle for girls’ education is not yet complete as we’ve seen happen in Nigeria but the progress made in India is encouraging. As the Indian Government and policymakers remain committed to invest in the education of the girl child, the country will certainly unlock a brighter and Obel Ty greater future for all. When girls are educated they turn into women, who can work for the economy, govern provinces, and mentor others. According to the words of Malala Yousafzai,‘’ One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world. ”Education of the girls is not only necessary for India on moral grounds but also is essential in the process of development.
