What were the problems of basic education after independence in India?

Basic education has to face a number of problems. Educationists in the country have emphasised the necessity of research, in Basic education, as research is likely to evolve the necessary measures for solving the problems facing it. Some areas of research in this connection have been as below:

1. To find out devices for correlating the teaching of various subjects with the different handicrafts.

2. To find out such subjects this may be useful in social and personal life of the student.

3. To organise the study-materials for various subjects.

4. To find out ways and means for raising the intellectual and behavioural standards of students of Basic schools.

5. To make Basic education more attractive to students and the public.

6. To find our measures for making Basic education meet the social needs and aspirations.

It is true that the lack of research in Basic education has impeded its progress, but there are some other problems which have not been less responsible for the failure of Basic education. For the success of this Scheme it is very necessary to re-organise, the study-materials in an adequate manner. These study-materials should pertain to various aspects of the life of the society concerned. This is very necessary for making Basic education useful to the society.

The whole structure of education will fail, if the very foundation, that is-primary education is not made effective. Unfortunately our primary education which is for the majority of children in the rural area of our country is Basic education appears extremely weak today.

Its reorganisation is very necessary, otherwise, secondary and university education, too, will remain weak. There appears a need of appointing an independent Commission on primary education order to study its varying problems and suggest measures for reforms.

For raising the standard of Basic or primary education, it is also necessary to raise the standard of living of teachers. For they should be so adequately paid as to have a decent living our Basic schools teachers are still poorly paid, although their scales have been revised a number of times, in fact, the poor financial condition remains the fate of teachers of all categories in our country.

In fact, Basic education has not received the sympathetic supports of all the sections of the Indian population. The Government Officers do not hesitate in remarking that Basic education is meant for children of only poor or lower classes.

So they prefer to send their wards to other schools; the various ministers in State and Central Governments who profess to be great advocates of Basic education have considered educating their children in Basic schools below their dignity. The fault does not lie with them alone.

The State and Central Governments have never chosen to give adequate grants to Basic schools on the plea that it has not been possible to afford more funds. The result has been that most of the Basic schools have been housed neither in such poor building which neither stand the onslaughts of the rainy season nor of the winter and summer.

At several places children of Basic schools are seen receiving education beneath trees, if they are there at all near the spot when the schools expected to be in operation.

Most of the teachers, even if they are trained, cannot use a handicraft as a medium of education. So they usually follow the traditional method of teaching.

The aforesaid difficulties and problems have thrown Basic education in a neglected position and it no more attracts the attention and sympathy of those on who falls the responsibility of organising our primary or basic education.