ABOUT THIS ISSUE
 

The District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) is an effort to decentralise educational planning at the district level suiting the educational needs and demands of the particular district, with a view to achieving universal primary education, not only in terms of number and coverage, but also in terms of retention and attainment of the desired levels of learning by the children.

The District Primary Education Programme guidelines were formulated in April 1993 and since then there have been major developments in the evolution of DPEP. District projects were prepared in 42 districts spread over the seven states of Assam, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharasthra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, A special feature had been the planning process in these districts, which has been intensive and participative, the process has conglated theory and practice with the involvement of various organisations. It would be a truism to say that DPEP planning processes have provided a valuable opportunity to field test many of the pedagogical and management concepts that they have been developing over the years.

The research studies conducted as a part of the planning process have been of a path breaking nature; and learning levels of over sixty thousand students were tested as part of a baseline study with rigorous sampling and pedagogic design, with a view to identify area- specific interventions in each of these districts. The loftiness of the objectives, the nature and intensity of the planning process, the integration of professional inputs, participative planning and management, and the emphasis on capacity building have together rendered DPEP an exciting idea not only in the country but all over the world.

This special number contains papers emanating out of the studies covering areas like pupil achievement; teacher motivation; factors effecting enrolment, retention and achievement of Scheduled Tribe students; effect of various intervention schemes on the education of scheduled tribes; status of inputs and facilities available for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe children, Gender issues and State finances etc.

-Editors

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