Education Portal for Students in India

The basic objective of a democratic state is to reduce inequality and the most appropriate way to remove inequality is by education. Education is process of learning and that process of learning should be according to one’s interest and pace. Basic aim of education is to develop the whole personality of an individual.

Meaning of Equality of Educational Opportunities is to provide education to all irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender etc. There are several provisions under Constitution of India which provides equality in educational opportunity. Article 21-A was added to the Constitution through 93 rd Amendment Act and it says that it is mandatory to provide education to all the children aged up to14 years.

Thus, Article 21-A tries to provide equal opportunity of primary education to each and every child. Article 26 of the Constitution of India is the main provision regarding equality of educational opportunities as it says Education is a Fundamental Right, and no educational institution can deny admission of any student on the basis of caste, creed, colour, religion or any of them.

Poverty: Poverty is one of the main reasons for inequality in educational opportunities. Poor Children does not get as much opportunity as the children’s’ from wealthy families get. Due to poverty lack of adequate opportunity also arises.Gender Discrimination: Inspite of several articles in Constitution of India, we still suffer from the problems of gender discrimination. Gender disparity is also an issue in this country. Families often value more to boy’s education in comparison of girl’s education.Family Background: Also the environment in family matters the most. In many cases children are the first generation learners, thus they don’t get that much support and motivation from their family members. And the children who have well educated parents get more and more encouragement and motivation. This also acts a reason of inequality. This is sometimes terms under the head of disparity between advanced and backward classes of society.Regional Imbalance: The issue of regional imbalance also plays an important role. Because of this the region which are not developed properly are not able to impart a quality education to the children of their region.Physically Disabled Children: Divyang children also face certain kind of difficulties while trying to education.Lack of Infrastructure: Scarcity of educational institution in several areas of the country also leads to unequal opportunities in educational field.

It would be wrong to say that steps were not taken to overcome these issues. The first and foremost step was adding the above mentioned provision in the Constitution of India. The several other steps are:

Establishment of large number of institution throughout the country.The concept of pre-school like aganwadi, balwadi, play groups also spread awareness among the people towards education. It also carves the path for development by removing stagnation in primary education.Another major step was taken by providing scholarships and facilities like fee waive in certain institutions.The establishments of schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya also helped in achieving the goals of equality of educational opportunities. Also the Kanyashram Schools in tribal areas aware people about the necessity of girls education and helped in overcoming gender disparity.Government schemes like Beti Bachaao Beti Padhaao, Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan, Prenana Schemes for SC/ST students for higher education, and several other schemes also helped in giving education to all the children of this country.Another major step to give education to children of remote areas were done by the government by making new central universities in remote areas which will with the pace of time develop that area.The laws for SC/ST’s and divyang children were made to overcome these issues of disparity.

We came a long way in this regard but yet a long way to go, as the conditions of the primary schools under state government were not up to the mark. Reports say that even the infrastructure of state oriented primary schools is not satisfactory. Shortage of teachers is another issue especially in rural areas of the country.

Inadequate training of the primary school teachers also hampers the quality of education they are imparting, which definitely results in inequality as the children going to the state oriented primary school cannot compete with the children going to the private primary schools. The concept of Mid-day meal was proposed in year 1995 in order to enhance enrolment of student and further for retention and attendance of children, this scheme is successful, but not to its fullest because of lack of infrastructure the food provided by the government is not stored properly.

Other reasons for inequality in educational opportunities are the cancer of corruption, lack of awareness etc. The poor implementation of laws is also a reason that we still see cases of inequality in educational opportunities. In order to conclude, I would like to say that we have laws to enhance our primary education, but for that we need to apply those laws efficiently and properly.

Enhancing the quality and reach of education in our country will help in curb many other socio, legal, economic issues. Aishwarya Says: I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years.

I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.
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What are the equity issues in the field of education?

What is Equity? – Equity is often referred to as “levelling the playing field”. As the image above shows, equity is achieved when each individual receives what they need to be on equal footing with others in the same environment. In the classroom, that might mean extra time, different supports, and unique resources for some students to achieve their learning goals.

The Glossary of Education Reform equates equity with fairness and points to many ways it can lead to inequality. “Inequities occur when biased or unfair policies, programmes, practices, or situations contribute to a lack of equality in educational performance, results, and outcomes. For example, certain students, or groups of students, may attend school, complete A-levels, or enrol in postsecondary education at lower rates.

The problem of education inequality | CNBC Reports

They may perform comparatively poorly on exams due to a wide variety of factors, including inherent biases or flaws in exam designs.” Providing equity in education requires honesty about inequality and a commitment to individuals with unique needs and those who are disadvantaged by systemic inequalities.

• The impact of Covid-19 on secondary students illustrates why equity is important in education.
• In their 2020 report, The impact of Covid-19 on student equity and inclusion: Supporting vulnerable students during school closures and reopenings, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that “more than 188 countries, encompassing around 91% of enrolled learners worldwide, closed their schools to try to contain the spread of the virus.” The move to remote learning widened the gap between the advantaged and the disadvantaged.

Despite the best efforts of school administrators, charities, and even commercial businesses, to get technology and internet access into the hands of every student, it’s simply not possible to ensure equity for all. The OECD cites a study in the UK in which “teachers reported that 62% of “vulnerable students” and 58% of students with SEN were less engaged in remote learning than their classmates.” These conditions may create a perfect storm of inequity.
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What are the issues related to inequality in education?

Educational inequality is the unequal distribution of academic resources, including but not limited to; school funding, qualified and experienced teachers, books, and technologies to socially excluded communities. These communities tend to be historically disadvantaged and oppressed.

• Individuals belonging to these marginalized groups are often denied access to schools with adequate resources.
• Inequality leads to major differences in the educational success or efficiency of these individuals and ultimately suppresses social and economic mobility,
• Inequality in education is broken down in different types: Regional inequality, inequality by sex, inequality by social stratification, inequality by parental income, inequality by parent occupation, and many more.

Measuring educational efficacy varies by country and even provinces/states within the country. Generally, grades, GPA scores, test scores, dropout rates, college entrance statistics, and college completion rates are used to measure educational success.

These are measures of an individual’s academic performance ability. When determining what should be measured in terms of the educational success of an individual, many scholars and academics suggest that GPA, test scores and other measures of performance ability are not the only useful tools in determining efficacy.

In addition to academic performance, attainment of learning objectives, acquisition of desired skills and competencies, satisfaction, persistence, and post-college performance should all be measured and accounted for when determining the educational success of individuals.

1. Scholars argue that academic achievement is only the direct result of attaining learning objectives and acquiring desired skills and competencies.
2. To accurately measure educational efficacy, it is imperative to separate academic achievement because it captures only a student’s performance ability and not necessarily their learning or ability to effectively use what they have learned.

Much of educational inequality is attributed to economic disparities that often falls along racial lines and much modern conversation about educational equity conflates the two, showing how they are inseparable from residential location and, more recently, language.

• Educational inequality between White students and minority students continues to perpetuate social and economic inequality,
• Throughout the world, there have been continuous attempts to reform education at all levels.
• With different causes that are deeply rooted in history, society, and culture, this inequality is difficult to eradicate.

Although difficult, education is vital to society’s movement forward. It promotes “citizenship, identity, equality of opportunity and social inclusion, social cohesion as well as economic growth and employment” and for these reasons, equality is widely promoted.

Global educational inequality is clear in the ongoing learning crisis, where over 91% of children across the world are enrolled in primary schooling; however, a large proportion of them are not learning. A World Bank study found that “53 percent of children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple story by the end of primary school.” The recognition of global educational inequality has led to the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Unequal educational outcomes are attributed to several variables, including family of origin, gender, and social class. Achievement, earnings, health status, and political participation also contribute to educational inequality within the United States and other countries.
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What causes equity gaps in education?

Equity gaps in education are based on disparities between the actors and groups that violate notions of equity —whether based on a descriptive or an analytical concept of equity—and whatever distribution models are applied.
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What kinds of inequalities are there in education?

Factors associated with inequality and attainment gaps include economic disadvantage, ethnicity, disability, gender, and whether a child has been in care or has special educational needs and disability (SEND). There is also regional variation in the average size of the disadvantage gap.
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What is an example of equality in education?

Equality = Sameness – Essentially, equality in education means that every student gets the same resources and opportunities. This could refer to the same funding for all schools, the same quality of and abundance of materials and facilities, and/or the same quality of instruction.
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What is the meaning of equality in education?

By Dr. Laura Latta, M.Ed., Ph.D., Director of Post-Secondary Partnerships & Research This is the first installment in the ImpactTulsa multi-part series, Equity in Education, Equal access to a high quality public education has been a top social justice issue for the past century.

1. After all, it was only 65 years ago that the Brown vs.
2. Board of Education ruling was made and “separate but equal” education was found to be decidedly unequal.
3. One would hope that a landmark ruling and the passage of time might heal an education system that was designed to limit access to students of color and benefit white students.

Unfortunately, issues of educational equality and equity are still the most commonly raised issues in communities across the nation (See: McNeel, 2019 ; McMillan, 2019 ; Peetz, 2019 ; Wilson Phelan, 2019 ). This blog series seeks to answer the question: What does equity in education look like? What’s the difference between equity and equality? Educational researchers, Cramer, Little, and McHatton (2018) explain that using the correct language to describe issues in education is critical.

The words equity and equality are often used interchangeably, confused as having the same meaning. It is important to note that though the words sound and are spelled similarly, they have very different meanings. Equality is the provision of equal treatment, access, and opportunity to resources and opportunities ( Gunn, 2018 ).

Essentially, everyone gets the same thing, regardless of where they come from or what needs they might have. Equity is the provision of personalized resources needed for all individuals to reach common goals. In other words, the goals and expectations are the same for all students, but the supports needed to achieve those goals depends on the students’ needs ( Equity Education, 2019 ). Source: (Interaction Institute for Social Change, 2016) Note: a variety of iterations of this image have been developed but the original is included above On each side of the picture, the goal for the three individuals is to see the baseball game. When provided with equal resources, the goal cannot possibly be achieved.

• However, when the resources are made equitable and adjusted based on the needs of the individuals, each person can successfully see the game.
• Equity and Equality: Why are they so important in schools? Public education is supposed to serve the public,
• What is known about the public is that there are a variety of experiences, cultures, and beliefs represented, all of which contribute to a unique and vibrant community.

Similarly, different members in a community have different needs and resources (financial, emotional, and physical, to name a few). Schools are tasked with educating all members of the public regardless of income, level of ability, native language, or prior education.

For this reason, equity is critically important to public education. In school, equality is often associated with access and outcomes. Equality asserts that every student should have the same access to a high quality education regardless of where they come from. It also requires that all students be held to the same standards and objectives regardless of their circumstances, abilities, or experiences.

Equity recognizes that different students need different resources to achieve the same goals as their peers. It takes into consideration the fact that a student with a disability requires different physical supports at school than a peer who does not have a disability.

Similarly, a bilingual student who speaks a native language other than English needs different language supports than a monolingual English speaker. None of the children are better or worse than another, they just have different needs. Every child brings to school a unique set of needs, talents, and resources that prompt teachers to respond in different ways to each individual student.

Equality focuses on what is fair within the group. Equity highlights what is fair for the individual. In public education, both group and individual needs are important. All students should have equal access to high quality education and once they get it, they should be afforded equitable supports to achieve success.

• What is standardization? There is another important term in education that is important to consider in the conversation about equality and equity: standardization.
• Standardization is “the process of making something conform to a standard,” ( Merriam Webster, 2019 ).
• The US public education system was built around standardization.

Everyone shares the same goals and expectations. Teachers develop their lessons around state adopted standards. Students are required to demonstrate proficiency on standardized tests, normed on the standard scores of kids in other districts and states.

1. Schools are standard-ized.
2. It is important to note that standardized education can be equal.
3. Every student is expected to meet the same sets of standards, goals, and objectives as their grade-level peers.
4. While equality and standardization can coexist peacefully, the burning question is: Can a standardized education system also be equitable? Stay tuned for the next installment in the equity series: Are equity and standardization compatible? Cramer, E., Little, M.E., & McHatton, P.A.

(2018). Equity, Equality, and Standardization: Expanding the Conversations. Education and Urban Society, 50 (5), 483–501.
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What is equity issues?

Equity Issue means any issue of partnership interests or shares by the Borrower or any issue or grant of rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, partnership interests or shares in the Borrower.
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Why is equity an imperative issue in education?

By Dr. Laura Latta, M.Ed., Ph.D., Director of Post-Secondary Partnerships & Research This is the first installment in the ImpactTulsa multi-part series, Equity in Education, Equal access to a high quality public education has been a top social justice issue for the past century.

After all, it was only 65 years ago that the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling was made and “separate but equal” education was found to be decidedly unequal. One would hope that a landmark ruling and the passage of time might heal an education system that was designed to limit access to students of color and benefit white students.

Unfortunately, issues of educational equality and equity are still the most commonly raised issues in communities across the nation (See: McNeel, 2019 ; McMillan, 2019 ; Peetz, 2019 ; Wilson Phelan, 2019 ). This blog series seeks to answer the question: What does equity in education look like? What’s the difference between equity and equality? Educational researchers, Cramer, Little, and McHatton (2018) explain that using the correct language to describe issues in education is critical.

• The words equity and equality are often used interchangeably, confused as having the same meaning.
• It is important to note that though the words sound and are spelled similarly, they have very different meanings.
• Equality is the provision of equal treatment, access, and opportunity to resources and opportunities ( Gunn, 2018 ).

Essentially, everyone gets the same thing, regardless of where they come from or what needs they might have. Equity is the provision of personalized resources needed for all individuals to reach common goals. In other words, the goals and expectations are the same for all students, but the supports needed to achieve those goals depends on the students’ needs ( Equity Education, 2019 ). Source: (Interaction Institute for Social Change, 2016) Note: a variety of iterations of this image have been developed but the original is included above On each side of the picture, the goal for the three individuals is to see the baseball game. When provided with equal resources, the goal cannot possibly be achieved.

However, when the resources are made equitable and adjusted based on the needs of the individuals, each person can successfully see the game. Equity and Equality: Why are they so important in schools? Public education is supposed to serve the public, What is known about the public is that there are a variety of experiences, cultures, and beliefs represented, all of which contribute to a unique and vibrant community.

Similarly, different members in a community have different needs and resources (financial, emotional, and physical, to name a few). Schools are tasked with educating all members of the public regardless of income, level of ability, native language, or prior education.

• For this reason, equity is critically important to public education.
• In school, equality is often associated with access and outcomes.
• Equality asserts that every student should have the same access to a high quality education regardless of where they come from.
• It also requires that all students be held to the same standards and objectives regardless of their circumstances, abilities, or experiences.

Equity recognizes that different students need different resources to achieve the same goals as their peers. It takes into consideration the fact that a student with a disability requires different physical supports at school than a peer who does not have a disability.

• Similarly, a bilingual student who speaks a native language other than English needs different language supports than a monolingual English speaker.
• None of the children are better or worse than another, they just have different needs.
• Every child brings to school a unique set of needs, talents, and resources that prompt teachers to respond in different ways to each individual student.

Equality focuses on what is fair within the group. Equity highlights what is fair for the individual. In public education, both group and individual needs are important. All students should have equal access to high quality education and once they get it, they should be afforded equitable supports to achieve success.

1. What is standardization? There is another important term in education that is important to consider in the conversation about equality and equity: standardization.
2. Standardization is “the process of making something conform to a standard,” ( Merriam Webster, 2019 ).
3. The US public education system was built around standardization.

Everyone shares the same goals and expectations. Teachers develop their lessons around state adopted standards. Students are required to demonstrate proficiency on standardized tests, normed on the standard scores of kids in other districts and states.

1. Schools are standard-ized.
2. It is important to note that standardized education can be equal.
3. Every student is expected to meet the same sets of standards, goals, and objectives as their grade-level peers.
4. While equality and standardization can coexist peacefully, the burning question is: Can a standardized education system also be equitable? Stay tuned for the next installment in the equity series: Are equity and standardization compatible? Cramer, E., Little, M.E., & McHatton, P.A.

(2018). Equity, Equality, and Standardization: Expanding the Conversations. Education and Urban Society, 50 (5), 483–501.
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How do you define equity in education?

Equality in education is achieved when students are all treated the same and have access to similar resources. Equity is achieved when all students receive the resources they need so they graduate prepared for success after high school.
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