The widening rural-urban divide PDF Print E-mail
Education
Written by Dr. B.S.Panwar   

It was a saying in the olden days that India lives in its villages. But, if we look at the initiatives taken by the Government for the rural people, this popular saying would appear a myth. Even in a state like Punjab, which has a strong rural economy, its rural population is yet to receive quality education. It is in this regard, that some experts have tried to look into the causes of the lack of participation of rural youngsters in professional education.

India is a land of diversities and it is more so when we see it in the context of rural-urban dimensions. So, it was not at all surprising to read in one of the prominent newspaper about the conclusions of the first comprehensive state-wide study of the number of rural students enrolled in professional courses in Punjab. As per the 2001 census, about two-thirds (66 per cent) of the state’s total population and 70 per cent of its workforce live in rural areas. The study disclosed that rural students have been virtually excluded from professional institutions and at present comprise just 3.71 per cent or 2085 of the 56,240 students enrolled in institutions affiliated to the five professional universities in the State.

The nationwide survey would broadly reach to the same conclusion. Considering the fact that Punjab is one of the most affluent states of the country, one could imagine the plight of the other states of the country.

The study conducted  over a period of two years by  the three Professors of Punjabi University, Patiala- Ranjit Singh Ghumman, Sukhwinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh Brar covers Punjab Technical University (PTU), Jallandhar; Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot; Thapar University,Patiala; Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET), Longowal; and Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNULP), Patiala. The study is based on data collected from 70 per cent of the colleges affiliated to PTU, 74 per cent to BFUHS and all courses run by other universities.

According to the study entitled – “Professional Education in Punjab: Exclusion of Rural Students”, the term rural students stands for one who has either studied till class X or XII in a rural school. There are just 2.97 per cent rural students in PTU, 0.30 per cent in Thapar, 1.81 per cent in SLIET, 1.88 per cent in RGNULP and 4.27 per cent rural students in BFUHS. Again, it is not surprising that 53 per cent of all rural youth who have gained admission in institutes of higher learning in the state, have studied from private schools in rural areas. As much as 70 per cent of these students come from villages located on the link roads and 30 per cent from villages located on the main roads. Most of these students have educated parents. The study maintains that 90 per cent of the fathers and 74 per cent of the mothers of these students have studied above the matric level.

The results of the study indicates that only 25 per cent of the rural students belong to the families with an annual income of upto Rs 1 lakh. Most rural children seeking higher education come from families with an annual income between Rs one lakh and Rs three lakh. Despite 25 per cent reservation in seats for SC, the number of SC students in engineering streams has decreased from 14.87 per cent (1991-92) to 9.55 per cent (2000-01) and to 7.52 per cent (2005-06). Backward Classes (BC) which have 5 per cent reservation, comprise just 2.59 per cent of the population in the higher education sector.

Commenting upon the outcome of the study, the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, Prof Jaspal Singh said that “it is disheartening to note that the budgetary allocation to higher education sector in the state has not increased during the last two decades. In fact, it has decreased over the years and at present forms only 1.2 per cent of the state budget and one-tenth of the total budget for the education sector.”  Studies conducted in the government schools of Punjab indicate that education in these rural schools are largely meant for students from SC, ST and BC families. The studies further say that the entry of private managed higher education institutions especially in professional higher education institutions has led to commercialisation of education and has gone out of the reach of the majority of rural population.

It is surprising to note that the farm university of the state- Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana also admitted almost same ratio of the students till last year. But, the present Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof M.S.Kang realised this gap between rural-urban sections of the society and he immediately took positive and sweeping realistic steps like ensuring the admission of rural students by changing the admission procedure and policy by admitting students after tenth standard and reserving seats for students from rural areas. He also took steps to change the curriculum of the courses so that the rural students could cope up with them and they are provided useful education. Professor Kang also introduced vocational courses which would add value to the education in the farm university.