The document discusses challenges facing primary education in India. It notes that 58% of children do not complete primary education, and according to a 2012 report, 10 crore children are two or more years below their grade level. Some key challenges are a lack of teachers and oversight of existing teachers, as well as socio-cultural barriers like discrimination and child labor. Barriers to education include psychological, financial, facility, logistical, and quality issues. Means to overcome these include nationwide campaigns, enforcing laws against child labor, promoting gender equality, providing free education, improving school facilities, electrifying rural areas, and providing supplies to students, among other strategies.

1. MANTHAN
Stepping Stones: Improving the Quality of Primary Education
in India

2. Fast Facts
 58% of children do not complete primary education in
India
 According to the Annual Status of Education Report
(ASER) 2012, 10 crore children in India are two or more
years below their grade level
 As of 2012, only 30% of standard three students could
read a standard 1 text a drop from 50% in 2009
 The ASER report also estimates that only 50% of rural
children enrolled in standard five can fluently read a
standard two textbook
 40% of standard five students in rural India cannot solve
simple two-digits subtractions

3. Challenges
 Paucity of teachers and trained staff
 Poor governance and oversight to monitor performance
of existing teachers
 Socio-cultural factors like discrimination against the girl
child, prevalence of child labor and caste differences
 Government schools have poor infrastructural facilities

4. Barriers to Education
Psychological
Barriers
Financial
Barriers
Facility Barriers
• School
• Electricity
Logistical
Barriers
Quality of
Education
Barriers to
Primary
Education

5. Means to Overcome the Barriers
 Psychological Barriers
 Launching a nationwide campaign highlighting the importance
of education
 Strict implementation of law against child labour and child
marriages
 Promoting gender equality and taking “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan”
a step further by increasing its penetration in rural areas
 Financial Barriers
 Providing free primary education

6. Means to Overcome the Barriers (contd.)
 Facility Barriers
 Schools
 Aiming to have a school with all basic amenities within every 4 km
 Providing better facilities in Government schools like
 Food
 DrinkingWater
 Sanitation
 Furniture
 Electricity
 Electrifying rural areas
 Logistical Barriers
 Providing Cycle and Books & Stationery to students from rural
areas
 Providing Uniforms and Meals in rural areas

7. Means to Overcome the Barriers (contd.)
 Quality of Education
 Surprise checks in Government Schools
 Teachers to be evaluated according to her students quality
 Average intelligence of students belonging to government school
should be at par with that of any other private schools
 Stricter regulation and laws for non-performing teachers
 High, Envious and Motivating rewards to teachers working hard
to educate