Ph.D. Research Scholar, Deptt. of Education, HPU, Shimla.
Online published on 4 October, 2017.
Education is an unique feature of human society enables the human beings not only to distinguish between the civilized and uncivilized, but also help them to achieve what otherwise remains unachieved. Education is a tool that plays a vital role in improving the socio-economic condition of the nation. Since the Constitution was adopted in 1950, the main focus of educational programmes remained on elementary education. The constitutional commitment being free and compulsory education to all children up to the age fourteen, all efforts aimed at achieving the goal of universal elementary education. The Right to Education has also been enshrined as a fundamental right by the constitution of India. It states that “The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such a manner as the State may, by law, determine.”
Himachal Pradesh has made a tremendous progress in the field of enrolment of students, reduction in the dropout rate, improvement in the literacy rate, reduction in the gap of gender literacy rate etc.
It has been rightly said, “Where women are respected, there the goals delights, and where they are not, there all work and effort came to naught. There is no hope of rise for the family or country where they live in sadness.” Thus education has been perceived to be a significant instrument in improving the status of women and consequently there have been efforts to improving the access of girls and women education. The removal of women illiteracy will not help in universal enrolment and retention of children in the age group of 6–14, but also will help in the preservation of the talent of the women.
