ABOUT THE BOOK

Why, despite repeated attempts of introducing mega policy programmes and legislations across the country, do significant gaps remain in educational statistics across different groups? Why, year after year, do the surveys on the education status of India divide states into high-and low-achieving categories? Why is the debate surrounding education unable to transcend from quantity of inputs to quality of outcomes? Numerous attempts have been made to comprehend and contextualise the consistent and recurrent patterns that characterise the course of education development in India. Still, the debate of inclusion in education continues to overshadow the entire course of education development. The book examines different dimensions of educational inequalities persistent in the country, specifically in the Northwest region, which represents a miniature India, stressing the need for a more pragmatic and targeted approach. 

To highlight the extent of disparity, the author offers a three-tier analysis of the primary and secondary data. Disparity at the national level is examined, followed by inter- and intra-state disparity in Northwest India and, lastly, educational development at district level is assessed based on quantitative data. Delving further into the nuances of creating an inclusive, equitable education system, the book enquires into the issues, problems and factors leading to the present educational scenario of selected districts from each state and offers an interesting and thought-provoking interpretation of the views and opinions expressed by the executors of policies on varied themes related to educational development. 

It is this in-depth analysis of quantitative data and innovative approach of including the voice of district-level officials that makes this book insightful reading not only for policy planners and researchers, but for students of education and sociology, research scholars, teachers, educationists and all those who strive to make a difference in the country`s goal of achieving the universal aspiration for Education For All. 

ABOUT Author

Dr. Madhulika Sharma is a Technical Expert at the Education Division of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Government of India, New Delhi. Previously she worked as a Senior Research Associate at the Department of Groups with Special Needs (DEGSN), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi. Her key research interests are Policy and Governance Issues in Elementary Education, Inclusive Education vis-à-vis Inequality and Exclusion in Education in India, and Children`s Right to Education. She has published her research work in peer-reviewed journals, in edited volumes and newspapers.

This book is a revised version of the author`s doctoral thesis, titled “Educational Development in Northwest India with Special Reference to Literacy and Elementary Education: A Critical Study”, which was pursued at the Department of Education and Community Service, Punjabi University, Patiala. Its content is of academic persuasion only. The views and perspective expressed herein are the author`s own. No part of it reflects, remotely or partially, the views of the NCPCR or the Government of India.