Good Practices In Tribal Education ; A Field Study

Abstract

The low education levels in certain tribes in a State, and within the same tribe as well as those living in certain areas is not understood very well. This book is the outcome of a study to document some Good Practices in Tribal Education. The study finds that Institutions like residential schools have contributed hugely in raising the literacy and education levels of tribal people; but they can become dysfunctional. PPP model may work for a while, but sooner or later can become mediocre and cause decline in education (and consequently livelihood) in cascading manner. Elitist schools are necessary for tribal students, who may feel discrimination in general elitist schools; but introduction of English medium of education creates a new language barrier, and this puts low-education level of tribes and people living in remote areas into higher levels of disadvantage. Such a system cannot be justified as this increases inequity. The presence of government is essential; there may be indifferent officials on many occasions, who may or may not carry the baggage of their prejudices; but it is more likely that good officials opt to work in such sectors or are pushed to such 'low priority' sectors. While language barrier is a reality and can be tided over as seen above, cultural barrier is exaggerated. Like most Indians, the major motivation for education has been jobs. In States like Gujrat and Maharashtra, where industries and services sectors need technicians at shop floor level, the tribal students are preferred because of their innate dexterity in such jobs. In States wherethe industries and mines are capital intensive (and these happen to be in places with large tribal population), if the students are averse to technical education, it is because there are no jobs. Good Practices in Education has been documented so that these can be emulated wherever relevant. The lapses which have been mentioned, somewhat parenthetically, are intended to show how continuous simple course corrections can help in improving the quality of education in tribal areas.