Education for All: National Plan of Action, India

Abstract

One could without any hesitation consider the 1990s as the most active period for the development of basic education in the country. The efforts in this regard were set in motion by the recommendations of the National Policy on Education - 1986. These got a fillip through the global declaration on basic education adopted in Jomtien in 1990. Significant strides were made both in the area of elementary education and literacy during this period. For instance during the decade, the number of lower primary schools increased by 14 per cent and upper primary schools by 36 per cent. Altogether, 24.3 million more children entered school, 130,000 new schools were opened and 530,000 additional teachers appointed in the period. The share of girls in the total enrolment went up from 41 per cent to 44 per cent in primary and from 38 per cent to 40 per cent in upper primary schools.