The education sector in Punjab is experiencing a number of
positive interventions by the government of Punjab. Universal Primary Education
survey and Universal Secondary Education survey are amongst the educational
schemes which are aimed to enhance admission rate and ensure enrolment of all
school going age children.
With remarkable achievements in the education sector, these
schemes have certain bad effects on female teachers as well. This task (of
survey) ended up with increased burden on teachers which is other than their
basic duty of teaching. Teachers have to work extra hours and out of track.
Thus, efficiency and focus of the teachers to teach is disturbed. The
government should appoint volunteers or local persons of the community to
conduct surveys.
Another step of the Punjab government to increase the
quality and quantity in education is "monitoring and evaluation system". This
system has resulted in enhancing quality of education in all tiers of the
school education. However, with all its positive aspects over education sector,
pressure on teachers has also been increased. Since, M&E officers require a
number of evidentiary documents to be produced and certain requirement to be
completed, teachers use some improper ways to complete the M&E files which
actually do not bear fruits.
Despite efficient steps by the Punjab government in the
field of education, rural urban gap is still prevailing in service delivery,
access and quality. There is a need to concentrate more on the schools in rural
areas to attain a balanced literacy rate in terms of access, quality and
quantity. Proper implementation of rationalisation policy can prove to be a
good cure for the problem.
Gender gap in education also contributes to rural urban gap.
The phenomenon is present in both rural and urban areas, however, it is more
intense in rural areas. To cope with the issue, certain schemes are being
implemented. Female stipend programme is one of these schemes and is subject to
female student’s 80 per cent attendance. However, socio-economic conditions of
the masses are hurdles in any government step to improver female literacy rate.
All the above information is based on research conducted by
SDPI in Ilm-ideas project. Thus, to conclude, situation of education sector has
somewhat improved. The government has taken some rigorous steps to improve the
quality of education and literacy rate. However, continuous monitoring, with
proper check and balance, of such steps is needed.
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