In the heartlands of rural India, a quiet transformation is underway. Classrooms once dimly lit and sparsely attended are gradually turning into spaces of learning and possibilities. At the centre of this shift lies a powerful belief that education is not merely a tool, but a springboard: Literally lifting children from limitation to opportunity, from marginalisation to empowerment.According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024, India has achieved commendable strides in school enrolment. Over 95% of children aged 6 to 14 are now enrolled in school — a figure that reflects not just policy success but bears testimony to a growing cultural embrace of learning.Pre-primary enrolment, too, has risen steadily since 2018, signalling the effectiveness of anganwadi centres, which now reach over half of India’s under-four population. These centres offer more than early learning; they provide nutrition, school readiness, and a community anchor for young children.Yet, the deeper challenge remains: converting enrolment into meaningful learning. Only 23.4% of Class III students in government schools can read a Class II level text, an improvement from pandemic lows, but still a troubling indicator.
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Arithmetic shows more promise, with one in three Class III students now solving subtraction problems — a decade high. Much of this recovery is owed to targeted early-grade programmes, which have brought teacher training, structured learning materials, and academic guidance to over 80% of primary schools in 2023–24.This incremental progress stands atop the resilient shoulders of India’s communities. From volunteer tutors to local school monitors, grassroots networks have helped sustain attendance and improve teacher presence, which now stands at 88%. Infrastructure is steadily improving too: 72% of schools now have functional girls’ toilets, 78% have access to drinking water, and half maintain classroom libraries.However, systemic inequalities persist, particularly in remote regions. Science labs, digital classrooms, and playgrounds remain a rarity. This is where India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 steps in with its sweeping vision. It advocates early exposure to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), coding, and artificial intelligence, delivered through hands-on methods in local languages.Experimental programmes like Atal Tinkering Labs and RoboShiksha Centres have made early inroads. But the lack of trained teachers, modern labs, and updated curricula continue to hold rural schools back.Digital literacy is undergoing a transformation, while gender disparities in digital skills are narrowing in several southern states.Still, the alignment between learning and employability remains weak. Shockingly, 30% of teaching posts in central universities are vacant, and only 45% of engineering graduates are considered job-ready. To bridge this gap, experts recommend five key actions: An integrated STEM curriculum, sustained in-service teacher training, affordable lab upgrades, school-industry partnerships, and inclusive assessments that reward creativity and collaboration.Corporate involvement is playing an enabling role. Initiatives like HDFC Bank’s Parivartan and Saksham schemes are building 3,500 digital classrooms, promoting digital literacy, and offering scholarships for underprivileged students. Major firms like Infosys and TCS are pioneering gamified, AI-driven microlearning platforms for workforce training— models that could b e adapted to schools.India’s education journey is at an important juncture. The foundations are strong, the momentum is encouraging. But to ensure every child thrives — not just attends — we must lean on innovation, equity, and collaboration. Education must evolve from a policy promise into a lived reality, one empowered student at a time.The Times of India is holding a two-day Social Impact Summit on July 11 and 12 in Mumbai. The event, presented by Malabar Gold & Diamonds with Ernst & Young as the knowledge partner, will have business leaders, NGOs, and policymakers to address these issues.
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