PRIMARY EDUCATION
It is a constitutional obligation of the country to provide free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of 14 years. This programme of universal compulsory education envisages universal provi- sion of educational facilities for both primary and middle stages. In this section of the report, availability of educational facilities for primary stage have been discussed.
In order to achieve the objective of universal elementary education, an important pre-requisite is that primary schools are made available for all children. It implies that a primary school is provided within a convenient walking distance from the home of every child.
This convenient distance' may be fixed by the States keeping in view the age of school going children, topography of the region and last but not the least the resources of the State. So far four All- India Educational Surveys have been conducted mainly to assess the availability of educational facilities to the school age children in the rural and urban areas. These Surveys reveal how the educational facilities have improved over the last two decades.
5.1 First Survey The First Surve which was conducted with 31.3.1957 as the date of reference, revealed that 59.75% of the
STATEMENT 5.1
Habitations and population in rural areas according to primary
schooling facilities available within various distance slabs
Distance Habitations having primary Population served by primary
slab sections sections
(in km) Number Percentage Population Percentage
1 2 3 4 5
Within the habitation 451457 46.80 399846861 78.53
0.1-0.5 141519 14.67 33621306 6.60
0.6-1.0 181022 18.77 39145549 7.69
Sub-total (upto 1.0) 773998 80.24 472613716 92.82
1.1-1.5 52633 5.46 11193270 2.20
1.6-2.0 72046 7.47 14389809 2.83
More than 2.0 65987 6.84 10966633 2.15
Total 964664 100.00 509163428 100.00
16 FOURTH ALL-INDIA EDUCATIONAL SURVEY
rural population had primary sections within the habitation of residence, while 83.09 per cent had primary sections either in the habitation itself or nearby. 'Nearby' meant a walking distance of one mile (1.6 km) except in certain cases where the limit had been fixed 1.5 miles (2 4 km). The Survey also proposed the places for location of new schools and with the existing and proposed new schools, it was estimated that 99.30% of the rural population would be served by primary sections either in the habitation of residence or nearby.
5.2 Second Survey The Second Survey was conducted with 31.12.1965 as the date of reference. Out of the 9,82,251 rural habitations identified in the Survey, 3,73,086 (37.98%) with 71.48% rural population had primary sections in their own habitations, and 8,56,816 (87.23%) habitations were either served by the primary sections in the habitation itself or within a walking distance of 1 mile (1.6 km). In terms of population, 94.96% of the rural population was served by primary sections located in their own habitation or within a walking distance of one mile.
5.3 Third Survey The Third Survey was conducted with 31.12.1973 as the date of reference. Of the 9,53,734 rural habitations identified in the Survey, 4,22,766 (44.33%) habitations had primary sections in the habitation of residence and 7,20,809 (75.59%) habitations were served by primary sections either in the habitation or within a walking distance of 1 km. Popolation-wise, 90.34% rural population (including 76.12% served in the habitations of residence) was served by a primary school/ section within 1 km.
5.4 Fourth Survey The Fourth All-India Educational Svrvey has been conducted with 30.9.1978 as the date of reference. Habitations having primary sections in the habitation of residence or up to a walking distance of 1 km have been deemed as 'served' for the primary stage. Also habitations having all the primary classes or some of' the primary classes have been treated as served for the primary stage with only West Bengal as an exception. in West Bengal, most of the Secondary and Higher Secondary schools start with class V, which actually belongs to the primary stage. A habitation with a school starting with class V and having no other primary section in the habitation, has been treated as having no primary section in the habitation of residence. The number of rural habitations identified in the country was 9,64,664. Of these, 4,51,457 (46.80%) have primary sections in them and another 3,22,541 (33.44%) have primary sections within a walking distance of 1 km. In other words, 7,73,998 (80.24%) habitations are having primary schools/sections either in the habitation itself or within a walking distance of 1 km. Amongst the rest 65,987 (6.84%) habitations do not have primary sections even up to a distance of 2 km.
In terms of population, 78.53% rural population is served by primary sections in the habitation of residence and another 14.29% by primary section up to a distance of 1 km, that is, 92.82% rural population has either primary sections in the habitation of residence or within a walking distance of 1 km. But 2.15% population is not served even up to 2.0 km.
5.4. 1. Population slab '5000 & above There are 4,407 habitations with population '5000 and above.' Of these, 4,334 (98.32%) habitations have primary sections in them and 4,365 (99.05%) have primary sections in the habitation itself or within a walking distance of 1 km. Population-wise, 98.46% population in the slab is served by primary sections in the habitation of residence and 99.11% is served by primary sections either in the habitation of residence or within a walking distance of 1 km. Further, 99.30% habitations covering 99.34% population in the slab are served by primary sections within 1.5 km. On further increasing the distance criterion to 2.0 km the corresponding percentages for habitations and population are 99.59 and 99.63. Only 18 habitations having 0.37% population in the slab are not served by primary sections up to 2.0 km
5.4.2 Population slab `2000-4999' There are 35,069 habitations in this slab. Of these 33,844 (96,50%) habitations, covering 96.65% population have primary sections in them. Again, 34,637 (98.77%) habitations covering 98.74% population have either primary sections in them or up to a distance of 1 km. With 1.5 km criterion, 34,740 (99.06%) habitations covering 99.02% population in the slab are served by the primary sections as against 99.51% habitations and 99.53% population when the distance criterion is raised to 2 km. In this population slab 172 habitations are not served even up to 2.0 km.
5.4.3 Population slab `1000-1999' There are 91,799 habitations in this slab of which 85,730 (93.39%) have primary sections in them. Fur-
PRIMARY EDUCATION 17
STATEMENT 5.2
Habitations in various population slabs served by primary sections In
them or up to various distances in rural areas
Population No. of Habitations served by primary sections
Slab habitations Within the Up to UP to Up to Up to
habitations 0.5 km 1.0 km 1.5km 2.0 km
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5000 & above 4407 4334 4352 4365 4376 4389
(98.34) (98.75) (99.05) (99.30) (99.59)
2000-4999 35069 33844 34287 34637 34740 34897
(96.51) (97.77) (98.77) (99.06) (99.51)
1000-1999 91799 85730 88072 90008 90602 91331
(93.39) (95.94) (98.05) (98.70) (99.49)
500-999 173727 141437 152826 164623 167948 171592
(81.41) (87.97) (94.76) (96.67) (98.77)
400-499 68365 45469 52683 61306 63746 66589
(66.51) (77.06) (89.67) (93.24) (97.40)
300-399 93340 49977 63223 79355 83811 89630
(53.54) (67.73) (85.02) (89.79) (96.03)
200-299 131630 46961 71172 102441 111223 122797
(35.68) (54.07) (77.83) (84.50) (93.29)
100-199 183414 33124 738951 28151 143724 164737
(18.06) (40.29) (69.87) (78.36) (89.82)
Below 100 182913 10581 52466 109112 126461 152715
(5.78) (28.86) (59.65) (69.14) (83.49)
Total 964664 451457 592976 773998 826631 898677
(46.80) (61.47) (80.24) (85.69) (93.16)
Note Figures within parentheses indicates percentages w.r.t. total
number of habitations in the stab. (w.r.t. = with reference to)
STATEMENT 5.3
Percentage of rural population in habitations in various population slabs served by
primary sections in the habitation of residence or up to various distances
Population slab Percentage of rural population served
Within the Up to Up to Up to Up to
habitation 0.5 km 1.0 km 1.5 km 2.0 km
1 2 3 4 5 6
5000 & above 98.46 98.84 99.11 99.34 99.63
2000-4999 96.65 97.80 98.74 99.02 99.53
1000-1999 93.69 96.11 98.09 98.70 99.48
500-999 82.50 88.68 95.06 96.88 98.87
400-499 66.63 77.15 89.72 93.28 97.39
300-399 54.14 68.15 85.29 89.98 96.09
200-299 36.71 54.91 78.52 84.97 93.63
100-199 18.79 40.82 70.08 78.50 89.82
Below 100 7.073 0.55 61.70 71.18 84.91
All habitations 78.53 85.13 92.82 95.02 97.85
18 FOURTH ALL-INDIA EDUCATIONAL SURVEY
ther, 90,008 (98.05%) habitations either have prima sections in them or within a walking distance of 1 km Again, 98.70% and 99.49% habitations stand serve by primary sections up to a walking distance of 1.5 km and 2.0 km, respectively. Only 468 habitations do not have primary sections up to 2.0 km. In terms of population, 93.69% population in the slab is served by primary sections in the habitation of residence; 98.09% 98.70% and 99.48% up to a distance of 1 km, 1.5 km 2.0 km, respectively.
5.4.4 Population slab `500-999' There are 1,73,727 habitations in this slab. Of these, 1,64,623 (94.76% habitations of residence. primary sections up to 1 km, This includes 1,41,437 (81.41%) habitations served the habitation of residence. In terms of population, 95.06% population in the slab including 82.50% served in the habitation of residence, is served by primary sections up to a distance of 1 km. On 1.5 km distance criterion 96.67% habitations accounting for 96.88% population stand served for primary stage and on the increased distance criterion of up to 2.0 km, the corresponding percentages for habitations and population are 98.77 and 98.87, respectively. In all, 2,135 habitations in this slab are not served for primary stage up to 2.0 km.
5.4.5 Population slab `400-499' There are 68,365 habitations in this population slab. Of these, 45,469 (66.51%) habitations accounting for 66.60% population in the slab have primary sections in them. 61,306 (89.67%) habitations, including 45,469 served in the habitation of residence, are served by primary sections up to 1 km. These habitations account for 89.72% population in the slab. 93.24% habitations and 93.28% population in the slab are served up to 1.5 km against 97.40% habitations and 97.39% population up to 2.0 km. 1,776 habitations are served by primary sections beyond 2.0 km.
5.4.6 Population slab `300-399' There are 93,340 habitations in this population slab. Of these, a little more than half (53.54%) habitions have primary sections in them and these account for 54.14% population in the slab. Observing the criterion of 1 km distance, 85.02% habitations (including those served in the habitation of residence) covering 85.29% population in the slab are served for primary stage. Further, 89.79% habitations having, 89.98% population in the slab are served up to 1.5 km and the corresponding percentages for 2.0 km distance are 96.03%) and 96.09%. 3,710 habitations in the slab are unserved up to 2.0 km.
5.4.7 Population slabs `Below 300' There are three population slabs below 300, namely '200-299', '100-199', and 'below 100'. The population slab '200-299' has primary sections in 35.68% habitations covering 36.71 % population. The corresponding percentages for habitations and population for slab '100-199' are 18.06 and 18.79 and for 'below 100' are 5.78 and 7.07. The habitations served up to a distance of 1 km in these population slabs are 77.83%, 69.87% and 59.65% with the corresponding population coverage of 78.52%, 70.08% and 61.70% in the respective slabs. 8,833 (6.71%) habitations in the population slab '200-299', 18,677 (10.18%) habitations in the slab '100-199' and 30,198 (16.51%) habitations in the slab 'below 100' are unserved up to 2.0 km.
5.4.8 Habitations and classes available In the foregoing paragraphs availability of facility for primary stage in habitations, irrespective of number of classes available in them, has been discussed. Almost in all the population slabs there are some habitations which do not have facilities for the primary classes but do have facilities for higher stage (s) namely for middle, secondary and higher secondary. The children of such habitations have to go to the neighbouring habitations for primary classes. This is an awkward situation and needs immediate rectification. Also, there are a few habitations where facilities for primary stage and secondary/higher secondary stage are available but facilities for middle stage are not there. Such odd cases exist in Bihar, Karnataka, Orissa, etc.
In population slabs '5000 & above', '2000-4999' and '1000-1999' the number of habitations having facilities for class 1 only, classes I and II and classes I-III is almost insignificant. In all the three population slabs the percentage of habitations with classes I-IV/I-V is more the 90%. As we move down the ladder, the 'percentage of habitations having classes I-IV/I-V goes on decreasing. In the population slabs '100-199' and 'below 100', 14.38% and 4.81% habitations have lasses I-IV/I-V, respectively.
5.4.9 Habitations and population not served The problem of habitations and population not served within 1.0 km., 1.5 km and 2.0 km distance as been discussed in the following paragraphs.
With the distance criterion of 1.0 km, 1,90,666 19.77%) habitations including 16.41 % habitation with
PRIMARY EDUCATION 19
STATEMENT 5.4
Habitations in various population slabs with primary classes available in them
Population NO. of Schools with classes
slab habitations
in the slab I I & II I-III Total I-IV I-V I-V Total
only (Cosl. (as part of (Cols.
3+4+5) composite 7%8+9)
school)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
5000 & above 4407 1 2 16 19 451 200 3664 4315
(0.43) (97.91)
2000-4999 35069 3 31 117 151 5907 5079 2267 833664
(0.43) (95.99)
1000-1999 91799 126 496 1085 1707 22840 29050 32033 83923
(1.86) (91.42)
500-999 173727 595 2183 6356 9134 47820 63529 20875 132224
(5.26) (76.11)
400-499 68365 396 1204 3945 5545 15307 20729 3846 39882
(8.11) (58.34)
300-399 93340 673 1468 5817 7958 16672 21896 3408 41976
(8.53) (44.97)
200-299 131630 695 1574 6822 9091 15481 19253 3101 37835
(6.91) (28.74)
100-199 183414 488 1306 4941 6735 10027 14003 2349 26379
(3.67) (14.38)
Below 100 182913 146 434 1185 1765 2652 5077 1078 8807
(0.96) (4.81)
Total 964664 3123 8698 30284 42105 137157 178816 93032 409005
(4.36) (42.40)
Note : Figure within parentheses under col. 6 and col. 10 indicate percentages w. r. t. col. 2.