A study of the Development of Primary Education in Dehradun district (Uttarakhand) from 2000 to 2011

Primary education is considered as a foundation on which the whole life of a child depends on. Primary Education decides the future of the child. The present study focuses on the development of Primary Education in Dehradun district from 2000 to 2011. The study critically examines the development of Primary Education in three major aspects such as enrolment, number of teachers and number of government primary schools in Dehradun district. There are number of government programmes running for quality education in primary schools like MDM (Mid day meal), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Right to education. Right to education means that every child has a right of basic education in a school which satisfies essential norms and standards. Its overall goal was universal access of basic education, enrolment, basic infrastructure facilities and retention, bridging of gender and social gaps in education and rising up learning levels of children. Findings of the study indicate that enrolment in Government Primary schools has consistently been declining. Negative growth rate of enrolment were found in most of the years where as Population growth has been consistently positive in the last decade in Dehradun district. It was found that enrolment is shifting from government primary schools towards private primary schools. Migration of the people from rural to urban areas was also observed during the study. Teacher's growth rate was also found negative in most of the years which can badly affect the teaching and learning process in the schools. Primary schools are also usually facing lack of basic facilities like Toilets, Electricity, Play ground, libraries, Furniture and even school buildings. Overall condition of primary education in Uttarakhand is alarming and need to reconsider the whole education system. There is a need to monitor the programmes running for school going children.