Tribal Education In Orissa In The Context Of Education For All, By 2000 A.D. A Status Paper

Abstract

It is a well-accepted fact that education is the basic input for any sustainable development and especially, socio-economic development. It is also recognized that with a substantial proportion of population in abysmal ignorance and poverty, the Nation, nay, the State can develop. There have been continuing national efforts for the promotion of education, in accordance with the provisions of Constitution for the Scheduled Tribes among whom the percentage of literacy is pronouncedly low at the National as well as State level. It is a fact that though in Odisha the level of literacy has improved over decades,the Scheduled Tribes who constitute 22.21 per cent of the total population of the State are still lagging behind in this respect. Moreover, there is differential rate of literacy among 62 tribal groups and between tribal men and women. The tribal groups in Odisha represent simple pre-literate and relatively encysted societies with distinct identity, subsistence economy and ethos, ideology and world-view. In consonance with their socio-cultural fabric, the tribal education stands out as a distinct discipline requiring special treatment. In spite of special emphasis on tribal education during the post-independence period our achievement does not commensurate with the aspirations, hence the gaping backwardness of the tribal people in particular and the State at large. This phenomenon attracts the attention of all concerned to strengthen the input and efforts for achieving the goal. The present book makes a humble attempt to present, in a single volume, the status of tribal education in the context of "Education for All by 2000 A.D.", the educational facilities, educational problems, perspective action plan and suggestions for improvement. It incorporates excerpts showing observations, learned views and recommendations of various Committees, Commissions, Working Groups, Study Teams in the field of tribal education.It is hoped that the book will be useful to general readers, scholars and development programmers in more than one way.