Slum Area Development
EDUCATION MAPPING IN A SLUM AREA: AN ANALYSIS OF THE DYNAMICS OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY
Mansi Shah Sreyashi Sen
CCS Working Paper No. 201 Summer Research Internship Programme 2008 Centre for Civil Society
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. II. Introduction Overview of Primary Education in Kolkata
III. A Brief Overview of Slums in Kolkata IV. Sample Survey Research Objectives and Methodology Slum Profile Supply of Education Demand for Education Conclusion Recommendations
V. VI.
VII. References VIII. Annexure
2
Introduction
The social, economic and cultural development of a nation is an achievement which rests largely on the educational attainment of its masses. Development theory in recent years has taken note of the importance of education as an index of development of a nation, and with its myriad positive effects on the functioning of a society, the outreach of education to every stratum of society is a subject of great concern. It is in this context that we examined the state of primary education in a slum in the city of Kolkata, which is upheld not only as an exemplary centre of learning and culture, but also as a city where unchecked urbanisation has forced great numbers of people to live in extremely squalid conditions, not having access to the basic amenities of life. Thus, although West Bengal has made considerable progress in the field of literacy and education with the literacy rate rising from 48.6% in 1981 to 68.2% in 2001 (as per census data), the situation which interested us was whether conditions in slums had undergone a change so remarkable. To study the dynamics of demand and supply we conducted a survey in a slum to understand comprehensively the state of education in the slum and diagnose problems if any. It is hoped that our findings shed light on the prevailing conditions and create awareness about the need for policy reforms in the education sector.
OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN KOLKATA
3
The Minister-in-Charge of School Education along with
Mansi Shah Sreyashi Sen
CCS Working Paper No. 201 Summer Research Internship Programme 2008 Centre for Civil Society
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. II. Introduction Overview of Primary Education in Kolkata
III. A Brief Overview of Slums in Kolkata IV. Sample Survey Research Objectives and Methodology Slum Profile Supply of Education Demand for Education Conclusion Recommendations
V. VI.
VII. References VIII. Annexure
2
Introduction
The social, economic and cultural development of a nation is an achievement which rests largely on the educational attainment of its masses. Development theory in recent years has taken note of the importance of education as an index of development of a nation, and with its myriad positive effects on the functioning of a society, the outreach of education to every stratum of society is a subject of great concern. It is in this context that we examined the state of primary education in a slum in the city of Kolkata, which is upheld not only as an exemplary centre of learning and culture, but also as a city where unchecked urbanisation has forced great numbers of people to live in extremely squalid conditions, not having access to the basic amenities of life. Thus, although West Bengal has made considerable progress in the field of literacy and education with the literacy rate rising from 48.6% in 1981 to 68.2% in 2001 (as per census data), the situation which interested us was whether conditions in slums had undergone a change so remarkable. To study the dynamics of demand and supply we conducted a survey in a slum to understand comprehensively the state of education in the slum and diagnose problems if any. It is hoped that our findings shed light on the prevailing conditions and create awareness about the need for policy reforms in the education sector.
OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN KOLKATA
3
The Minister-in-Charge of School Education along with
References: 36 Government of West Bengal and CINI Asha, 2005, ‘Tracking Children in schools of Kolkata’, CINI ASHA