Gender Equality in Education with special reference to Assam

Abstract

Gender equality is a state where everyone enjoys equal rights, resources, opportunities and protections. It is a base for creating peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Gender equality always enhances the productivity for the current generation and improves development for the next. Education is an important path for breaking the walls of gender inequality and putting steps forward for sustainable societal development. As per census 2011, the total literacy rate in Assam 72.19%. It clearly indicates a significant gap in the literacy rate in between male and female population in Assam. A nation will develop when society is free from all kind of gender based imbalance, discrimination and violence especially in the field of education. Gender equality in education basically related with four dimensions i.e. , (a) equality of access (b) equality in the learning process (c) equality of educational outcomes, and (d) equality of external results. Govt. of Assam as well as India has taken various initiatives for reducing different gender inequality issues. Both the governments give stress in taking steps for strengthening the condition of gender equality for smooth development of the country and emphasis on the vision ‘Education for All’ by formulating different policies and acts like Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education act (2009), Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan etc. The central and state govt. introducing various schemes in different levels of education for increasing the enrollment and also looks after for solving of drop-out issue. This paper is intended to study the gender equality in education in Assam and also suggests some remedial measures for fuelling the gender equality for the benefit of the greater society