Current Situation of Elementary Education in India 2025: Problems & Solutions

Free and compulsory education for every child up to the age of fourteen is a constitutional mandate in India, making elementary education a fundamental right. In the early decades, till around 1960, most efforts were centered on building schools and providing basic access to education. Once access was established, the focus of educational planners and policymakers shifted towards ensuring universal enrolment, student retention, and improving the overall quality of education.

A major turning point came in 2000–01 with the launch of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) – the Government of India’s flagship programme to universalize elementary education. This initiative has played a crucial role in transforming the education landscape. Through SSA, the government expanded school infrastructure, introduced drinking water and toilet facilities, trained teachers more effectively, and worked to enhance learning outcomes.

The programme also placed special emphasis on disadvantaged groups, minority communities, and girls, ensuring that education is not just a right in theory, but also a reality for every child in India. Over the years, these interventions have brought the country closer to achieving the vision of inclusive, accessible, and quality elementary education for all.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has come a long way achieving the following:

1. Out of School children number has been brought down significantly (8 million in 2009, 3   million in 2012).
2. Big boost to additional schools -195,000 Primary and more than 100,000 Upper Primary   schools sanctioned.
3. 2 million additional teacher posts. Today we have teachers with proper professional   qualifications for teaching.
4. Girls’ admission improved dramatically. Gender parity is achieved.
5. The scheme supports 200 million children in 1.4 million schools in the country.
6. Today there is a primary school within 1 Km distance of most children and almost every   child is in school (Enrolment rates have gone up to 93%-95% in most parts of the   country).

Fascinatingly, private investment in education has also gone up in the country. Estimates say that 27% of all the children are in private schools. In urban areas this ratio is 50%. With more urbanisation happening, the future of private schooling looks good. Therefore, in an appropriate way private schools have also contributed to universalise education in India.

India has done laudable work in universalizing primary education. The issue of access to schools and enrolment has been nearly resolved. In this scenario, the role of non-state actors has become significant. The country provides a balanced platform for a big role by private players in education. India looks forward to see the result of the interplay of the combined efforts of innovators and private players together play a major role in primary education alongside the Government.

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