Education has been a long persisting issue in Punjab. Many officials came promising high reforms with nothing to show for. A large part of Punjab is still uneducated due to loads of issues, both personal and systematic. According to data obtained in 2011, Punjab, India has a literacy rate of only 75.84%. Issues such as low enrolment and high dropout rates, poor learning outcomes, and lack of resources and infrastructure are the leading candidates in the race of problems that the people of Punjab face. The drive to educate Punjab children is seen to be quite low and should be considered as an infringement of the rights the children meant to stay in schools. There is a long list of problems and all of them come with easy solutions if someone pays attention. They are:
Low Enrolment and High Rates of Dropouts
The lack of education in Punjab has presented a long list of problems in keeping kids in school. Due to low education, many parents are not aware of the benefits of education. Considering education to be a luxury instead of a necessity, they fail to understand the significance of the impact education can have on their personal lives, as well as the society they live in.
Due to the lack of support from local governments, many parents prefer to have their children work from a smaller age, rather than focusing on their studies. While this may be a way to earn quick money and provide support, it fails horribly in the long run, keeping their children away from the vast land of opportunities that lie ahead, potentially forever shutting the door on a well-paying job as well, which is what they need the most. With a dropout rate of 21.7%, Punjab has a dropout rate higher than the national level. This has a heavier impact on girls, as many parents prefer not to educate their daughters and the thought school that women are to marry and serve their household has managed to keep many deserving students away from the education they deserve.
There are many ways these challenges can be blown out of the water, and they do not require much effort as well. Implementing a scholarship program is the perfect motivation to educate Punjab children, taking the pressure of fees off parents. Other than that, community outreach programs to educate parents in this problem can be a groundbreaking move as it can motivate many families to finally send their children to school and help them fulfill their potential. Another excellent way can be to increase vocational training alongside and after school to increase the chances of students landing jobs, as this can help convince parents against education that better days are waiting after their children get done with education!
The Quality and Training of Teachers
Teachers in Punjab are inadequately trained, resulting in the delivery of low quality of education. The training methods used to train teachers are outdated, and older than the word outdated itself. The same methods have been passed down generations, which means that the problems that were considered issues back then are the same nowadays. With a lack of training, teachers are relaying inadequate education to children, and it is not their fault at times too. Many teachers are known to be teaching different subjects to different grades as there is also a lack of teachers. This also causes huge issues for both teachers and the students, impacting the quality of education.
An easy way to overcome this problem is to reform the ways of training for teachers, as this shall allow them to teach children using modern teaching techniques, allowing them to deliver the highest quality of education. Merit based recruitment of teachers is also a great way to educate Punjab children, as it shall ensure that only the best teachers who actually know how to do their jobs are appointed to educational institutes, shaping the future of education perfectly.
Resources and Infrastructure
The current infrastructure of educational institutes is in a very bad condition. Many schools have old and damaged buildings while resources are scarce and very hard to come by. This issue persists mainly in the rural areas of Punjab, resulting in a major gap of quality of education. With a low budget and its abuse, many schools do not have the appropriate technology to teach certain subjects and can be lacking in those areas heavily. A major example is the absence of computers from school, which then limits the practical experience and familiarity needed for the real world.
A great way to overcome this challenge is to allocate sufficient budgetary resources for improving school infrastructure and acquiring essential educational materials. This shall help in schools to be properly maintained with everything they need within reach. A partnership with private organizations and NGOs can also help resolve these issues, as everyone has always strived to make the world a better place for children. These shall be the perfect ways to educate Punjab children, and make sure that all schools have a level playing field to deliver proper education.
Final Note
Lack of education in Punjab is a major issue, causing many societal issues ranging over generations. All of these can be solved however with proper education and counseling of parents, proper awareness amongst students, and the intervention of higher officials to nip the problem in its bud.
