SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF WOMAN EDUCATION

The girls are very useful at home for carrying out domestic duties and so the mother is reluctant to send them to school. A large number of children in the rural areas are undernourished. They hardly have to square meal a day. Unless the parents are given some kind of economic relief, it will be impossible to achieve the targets. In India the vast majority of the population is poor. They cannot afford to give education to all their children. When the choice comes they prefer to invest in the education of sons, rather than their daughter.  It is believed that the sons will side with the father in old age and on the other hand after some time the girl will get married. She will go to some other family, therefore, do not care much for women's education.

The problem of women’s education in India is one which attracts our attention immediately. In our country, due to conservative traditionalism, women’s status has, through ages, been considered to be lower than that of men. During the later part of the Vedic period, the Aryans had sealed the fate of women culturally and socially by denying them the right to study Vedas and thus half of the population was deprived of one of the most fundamental human rights.

They were regarded as the bondslave to men for their economic dependence on them. Even today, in spite of the recognition of women’s status equal to that of men, the majority of them suffer in primitive ignorance as ever before. Illiteracy and ignorance are prevalent more in women folk than in men-folk and this evil is rampant especially in rural areas and backward communities.

The importance of women in matters of building the character of the citizens, economic reconstruction of the country and social reforms are being realized. Under the fast-changing conditions in the country in the recent times increased attention is being paid to their education. Though different Commissions and (Committees appointed at times, suggested for the solution of the problems of women’s education and for its expansion, even then there are certain problems still persist in that field.

The main problems facing their education are:

(i) Development of immorality;

(ii) Suitable Curriculum for the education of girls;

(iii) Lack of social consciousness among women;

(iv) Scarcity of lady teachers;

(v) Lack of proper physical facilities;

(vi) Unwillingness of lady teachers to serve in rural areas;

(vii) Financial difficulties;

(viii) Problem of transport;

(ix) Problem of wastage and stagnation;

(x) Problem of co-education;

(xi) Lack of enthusiasm and interest of the officials in charge of education

The education of girls and women is an integral part of national development. Steps that are being taken to improve and expand their education will not recede to the background due to lack of finance. It must be remembered that there is still a big gap to be filled with the education of the boys and girls, further; mother is the pivot of family life in India. Our way of life depends on her. It is essential; therefore, that at least the programmes for girls and women that have already been included in the current plan are not disturbed.