The concept equality of educational opportunity has passed through various stages of evolution in history. At present equality of educational opportunity has been interpreted “as the opportunity to start together, to benefit from staggered starts, to rein on the same track, and to rein or progress together.
“According to NPE-1986 Equality of Education means “to provide for equal opportunity to all not only in a access but also in the conditions for success”. Equality of Educational opportunity has been taken as “equalization of access by as suitable manipulation of educational inputs (Like physical facilities and equipment in schools, quality of teachers and curriculum, and financial assistance for the poor).
To other, it has meant an equalization of results of education well, that is equalization of educational achievement and benefits accruing from it.”
Till date the term equality of educational opportunity was generally interpreted as openings of schools within walking distance for children, providing residential facilities to children, admission of children of all communities to schools, reducing the dropout rate and increasing, the retention rate of children through various measures, provision of non-formal education centres for the non-attending children, grant of pre-matric and post-matric stipends and provision of various ancillary service to facilitate schooling of children.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
It is common observations that such provisions have either not been fully utilised or not understood in the right perspective by the beneficiaries second, economic poverty though a major reason, is not the only constraint in the educational development of the educationally backward sections of Indian society.
There are other factors, such as social and psychological restrains lack of motivation in children vis-a-vis their education, a low self-concept of their parents, inadequate facilities in homes, and the passive attitude of teachers to the educational progress of learners from backward communities.
Teacher’s active participation in the educational development of these communities in general, and individual attention to their children in particular, will definitely pave the way for their success in education.