The Preamble of the Indian Constitution emphasizes equality of status and opportunity. Equal opportunities for education for the underprivileged enable them to use education as a lever for the improvement of their socio-economic condition. For these children to break free from the shackles of poverty, education is very important.
Kothari Commission makes the following observation about the importance of equality in education and educational opportunities:
- It is essential for the establishment of an equal society.
- It is needed for the success of democracy.
- It is needed to ensure the social and economic development of our country.
- Identifying talents is essential in various fields.
- It is needed to develop human resources and to meet the manpower needs of our country.
- It is crucial in promoting social justice.
- It is necessary to minimize the educational gap between the privileged and the underprivileged.
By providing literacy and skills, they hope to enable children to gain employment and bring financial relief to their families. The goal of education is to bring equality and give all people the opportunity to succeed.
But our country’s changing socio-economic conditions make this a distant dream. To grow as an individual and a nation, excellent skills and knowledge are essential.
Nelson Mandela has rightly said:
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”.
The present education system, however, has not led to the development of the country as a whole. Merely pursuing a graduate degree won’t open up job opportunities as a postgraduate degree would do. The underprivileged who lack resources are often left out in this race and are unable to pursue their desired goals.
