DEMOCRACY ONLY PROVIDES

THAT ALL MEN SHOULD HAVE

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR
UNEQUAL TALENTS.

DR. S. RADHAKRISHNAN
 CONTENTS:
 INTRODUCTION
 EQUALITY OF EUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 NEED OF EQUALITY IN EDUCATION
 IMPORTANCE OF EQUALITY IN EDUCATION
 PROBLEMS CONCERNING EQUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 CASTE SYSTEM
 FEATURES OF THE CASTE SYSTEM
 THOUGHTS OF DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR
 EDUCATION OF SCHEDULED CASTE, SCHEDULE TRIBE & OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES
 MEASURES TAKEN FOR EQUALIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 NATIONAL POLICY OF EDUCATION 1986
 NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020
 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
 INITIATIVES BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
 CONCLUSION
 INTRODUCTION
 It is unfortunate that the phenomenal growth in educational facilities after independence is not

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

accompanied by equalization of opportunities for all.
 Education is one the effective means through which any society can strive for social equality or at
least make an effort to reduce social inequalities among their members.
 This will only be made possible, if there is a provision for equalization of educational opportunities to
all its members irrespective of caste, religion, gender, location, creed, language, socio-economic
status etc.
 The report of the Indian Education Commission, 1964-66 also stated regarding the equalization of
educational opportunities, “One of the important social objectives of education is to equalize
opportunity, enabling the backward or underprivileged classes and individuals to use education as a
lever for the improvement of their condition. Every society that values social Justice and is anxious to
improve the lot of the common man and cultivate all available talent must ensure progressive equality
of opportunity to all sections of the population. This is the only guarantee for the building up of an
egalitarian and human society in which the exploitation of the weak will be minimized”.
 EQUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

OPPORTUNITIES
 The concept of equality in the domain of educational opportunities among
different social groups is one of the vital aspects for the development of socio-
economic and political vantage points in every society.
 Education is one of the means for eradicating social problems in order to bring
the people into the horizontal field of human development.
 Equal education for all children means that there should be the same
curriculum in the same school.
 In 1966, the USA had constituted an expert committee to study various
possibilities of equal distribution of educational resources among people.
 They stated that, for equal distribution of education to the people, there
should be some inputs such as pupil expenditure, physical facilities and
source of library; there should also be outputs such as racial composition of

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

students, teacher’s morale and consideration of student’s academic results
as seen individually.
 The problem with Indian society is graded inequality in almost every sphere
of society.
 One may be able to say that ‘caste’ is the base and the rest is superstructure
which determines power, possession of resources, authority and of course
education.
 It is a fact that inequality of educational opportunities can only be reduced
by first reducing inequality in society as a whole.
 NEED OF EQUALITY IN EDUCATION

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

 FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EGILITARIAN SOCIETY BASED ON
SOCIAL EQUALITY AND JUSTICE.
 CONTRIBUTES TO THE SEARCH FOR TALENTS AMONG ALL THE
PEOPLE OF A NATION.
 ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THE RAPID ADVANCEMENT OF A NATION.
 FOR THE SUCCESSFUL FUNCTIONING OF A DEMOCRACY.
EDUCATED AND ENLIGHTENED PEOPLE ALONE CAN ENSURE A
MEANINGFUL DEMOCRACY.
 HELPS TO DEVELOP A CLOSER LINK BETWEEN THE MANPOWER
NEEDS OF SOCIETY AND AVAILABILITY OF SKILLED PERSONNEL.
 IMPORTANCE OF EQUALITY IN
EDUCATION

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

 HUMAN RIGHTS
 ESSENTIAL FOR DEMOCRACY
 EGILITARIAN SOCIETY
 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 NATIONS ADVANCEMENT
 SEARCH FOR TALENT
 CLOSER LINK
 MODERNIZATION
 ACHIEVING EQUALITY AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION
PROBLEMS CONCERNING EQUALITY OF
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

 DIFFERENCE IN ECONOMIC STATUS
 GENDER DISPARITIES
 REGIONAL IMBALANCE
 PHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
 DIFFERENCE IN HOME CONDITIONS
 NON AVAILABILITY OF ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES
 DIFFERENCE IN MENTAL AND PHYSICAL AVAILABILITIES
 DISPARITY BETWEEN FORWARD AND BACKWARD CLASSES
 CASTE SYSTEM

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

• PRIESTS
BRAHMINS
• ACADEMICS

• WARRIORS
KSHATRIYA
• KINGS

• MERCHANTS
VAISHYA
• LANDOWNERS

•SERVANTS
SUDRA
•COMMONERS

•OUTCAST
UNTOUCHABLES
•STREET SWEEPERS
 FEATURES OF THE CASTE SYSTEM

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

 DIVISION OF SOCIETY
 HIERARCHY
 RESTRICTIONS OF FEEDING AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
 CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS DISABILITIES & PRIVILEGES OF DIFFERENT
SECTIONS
 RESTRICTIONS ON MARRIAGE
 LACK OF UNRESTRICTED CHOICE OF OCCUPATION
 THOUGHTS OF DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR
 “Education is what makes a person fearless, teaches him

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

the lesson of unity, makes him aware of his rights and
inspires him to struggle for his rights.”
 “Education is something which ought to be brought
within the reach of every one.”
 “The society must be based on reason, and not on
traditions of caste system.”
 “The backward classes have come to realize that after all
education is the greatest material benefit for which they
can fight.”
 “Education is an instrument of social change. Be hungry
when the time comes but educate your children.”
 EDUCATION OF SCs, STs & OBCs

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

 THE SCHEDULED CASTES (SCs) AND SCHEDULED TRIBES (STs) ARE
THE TWO MOST DEPRIVED SECTIONS OF SOCIETY IN OUR
COUNTRY.
 THE LITERACY RATES OF SCs AND STs ARE STILL MUCH LOWER
THAN THE LITERACY RATE OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.
 THE ENROLMENT OF SC AND ST CHILDREN IS LOWER THAN THAT
OF CHILDREN BELONGING TO OTHER COMMUNITIES BOTH AT
PRIMARY AND UPPER PRIMARY LEVEL ESPECIALLY OF GIRLS.
 DROPOUT RATES OF SC AND ST CONTINUE TO BE MUCH HIGHER
THAN THAT OF CHILDREN OF OTHER COMMUNITIES AT ALL
LEVELS OF SCHOOLING.
 OTHERS(OTHER THAN
PERSONS SCHEDULED CASTES SCHEDULED TRIBES
SC AND ST)
RURAL

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

MALE 45.95 38.45 63.42
FEMALE 19.46 16.02 35.3
TOTAL 33.25 27.38 49.86
URBAN
MALE 66.5 66.56 83.4
FEMALE 42.29 45.66 67.48
TOTAL 55.11 56.60 75.93
TOTAL
MALE 49.91 40.65 69.53
FEMALE 23.76 18.19 44.51
TOTAL 37.41 29.60 57.69

SOURCE: CENSUS OF INDIA , 1991

MEASURES TAKEN FOR EQUALIZATION
OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

 To provide equal opportunity to all children, primary education has been
made free, compulsory and universal as per the constitutional provisions.
 Steps have been taken for the educational backwardness amongst the
scheduled caste and scheduled tribes with the provision of reservation of
seats and different types of scholarships for promoting equality in
education.
 The NPE 1986 stressed on the removal of disparities and attainment of
equalization of educational opportunities for SC, ST and other backward
sections specially for girls.
NATIONAL POLICY OF EDUCATION 1986
 Initiatives to indigent families to send their children to school regularly till they
reach the age of 14 years.

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

 Reservations for SC/ST children in educational institutions at all levels of
education.
 UEE, Operation Blackboard, Non-Formal Education, DPEP etc. accord priority
to the education of SC and ST children. ‘Lok Jumbish’ and ‘Shiksha Karmi’
projects have a specific focus on SC and ST inhabited areas.
 Grant-in-aid to voluntary organizations working to promote education among
SC and ST children.
 Reservation in recruitment of teachers from SCs and STs.
 Provision of a primary school or non-formal education centre in every scheduled
tribe habitation.
 NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020
 TO OVERCOME LANGUAGE BARRIER BEING FACED BY STUDENTS,

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES (MOOCs) ARE BEING
TRANSLATED IN INDIAN LANGUAGES.
 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DIFFERENT DEPRIVED SECTIONS OF
SOCIETY
 MAULANA AZAD NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR MINORITY
STUDENTS
 PG SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SC/ ST CANDIDATES
 POST DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP FOR SC/ ST CANDIDATES
 NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES
 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
 ARTICLE 46.

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

“The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic
interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from
social injustice and all forms of exploitation.”
 ARTICLE 30 (1).
“All minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to
establish and administer educational institutions of their choice..”
 ARTICLE 14.
“The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the
equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
 ARTICLE 29 (2),
“No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution
maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

religion, race, caste, language or any of them.”
 ARTICLE 21(A),
“The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age
of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine.”
 ARTICLE 17,
“Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The
enforcement of any disability arising out of “Untouchability” shall be an offence
punishable in accordance with law.”
 ARTICLE 15(1),
“The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion,
race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.”
 INITIATIVES BY GOVERNMENT OF
INDIA

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

 KASTURABA GANDHI BALIKA VIDYALAYA (KGBV)
 PRADHAN MANTRI POSHAN SHAKTI NIRMAN (PM POSHAN)
 NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SAMITI
 ASHRAM PADDHATI SCHOOL
 RESERVATION IN ADMISSION IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES
 FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION FOR 6 TO 14 YEARS AGE
GROUP (RTE)
 SARVA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN
 CONCLUSION
 IN A HIERARCHICAL SOCIAL ORDER, THERE SHOULD BE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR SO-CALLED LOW
CASTES BECAUSE IT IS THE LOW CASTES WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF THE CASTE SYSTEM SINCE ITS
INCEPTION. WITHOUT THIS, ONE CANNOT CLAIM AND ARGUE ABOUT BRINGING EQUALITY IN THE
DOMAIN OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, SINCE VICTIMS OF THE CASTE SYSTEM WERE NEVER

BACK TO CONTENT PAGE

ALLOWED TO ATTEND CLASSES, AND, IN WORST CASES, THEY WERE EVEN NEVER ALLOWED TO
ENTER CLASSROOMS. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF EXISTING SOCIAL INEQUALITIES.
 THOUGH CONSTITUTIONAL MEASURES ARE PROVIDED TO SECURE THE RIGHTS OF THE
MARGINALIZED GROUPS, BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE
ARRANGEMENTS, DALITS ARE STILL FACING STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS IN GETTING EDUCATION ON
PAR WITH OTHERS.
 INDIAN SOCIETY, IN PARTICULAR, IMPLICITLY MAINTAINS INEQUALITY IN THE DOMAIN OF
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH CAN ONLY BE REDUCED BY REDUCING SOCIAL INEQUALITIES
THAT HAVE FRACTURED THE VERY FABRIC AND ESSENCE OF SOCIETY.
 WITHOUT THIS, ONE CANNOT EXPECT TO CONSTRUCT A JUST SOCIETY AND ENVISION SOCIETAL
DEVELOPMENT.
 ‘EQUALIZING OPPORTUNITY IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT REDUCING THE ABSOLUTE LEVEL OF
INEQUALITY FROM ITS ROOTS, FROM ITS VERY BASIS.
 REFERENCES
 CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
 https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/7926/1/Unit-11.pdf
 MALLAPPA B SALAGARE. RANI CHANNAMMA UNIVERSITY, BELGAVI. DR. B.R.AMBEDKAR’S VIEWS
ON EDUCATION. JANUARY 2018. RETRIEVED FROM https://www.researchgate.net/ RETRIEVED ON
DECEMBER 15, 2022.
 DEEP CHAND. GOETHE- UNIVERSITAT FRANKFURT AM MAIN. SAILU KARRE. TATA INSTITUTE OF
SOCIAL SCIENCE. MARCH 2019. RETRIEVED FROM https://www.researchgate.net/ RETRIEVED ON
DECEMBER 15, 2022.
 DRAFT NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2019
 https://education.gov.in
 https://www.india.gov.in
 BHAVNA SHUKLA (2022). SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF EDUCATION. AGRAWAL
PUBLICATIONS.
 PROF. RAMAN BIHARI LAL. SUNITA PALOD. PHILOSOPHICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
OF EDUCATION. R. LALL PUBLICATIONS.
 https://ncert.gov.in
 https://www.studocu.com/in/document/national-law-university-delhi/social-stratification/caste-system-
in-india/25513005/ RETRIEVED ON DECEMBER 18, 2022.