Group1_D | SDG 4: Quality Education
Quality Education.
Image courtesy: UNDP
Introduction:
Quality education is one of the very important SDGs as it has great potential to bring significant social and economic justice for the future generation. If it is accomplished, the world is going to be a lot better place to the underprivileged. In that respect, this SDG focuses on providing equal access to free primary and secondary education across the globe and also aims at achieving global access to quality higher education (through the supply of high-quality teachers and increased provisions for scholarships). Its objectives include eliminating the discriminations based on gender, quality and wealth in the field of education and to ensure that by 2030, all the youth around the world are equipped with at least the knowledge of basic school education. Since the past two decades, the total number of children opting out of school across the world has almost dropped to half. Hence, with the corporates' increasing reach throughout the globe, it is easy for them to not only contribute effectively towards this goal but lead in some cases.
Corporates have realized the importance of their CSR initiatives towards school education as we have seen an increased fund allocation of CSR initiatives towards education. They have found an effective way of assisting through the PPP models, and have taken help from third parties to help them make their contributions reach the target audience in a better way. In this blog, we shall explore the relevance of the quality education in India, the business implications, followed by a detailed analysis and proffer our suggestions for the path ahead.
Relevance of the SDG to India:
India accounts for around 20% of the overall achievement gap in the Quality Education goal, as given in the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. India's literacy rate is languishing way behind when we compare the numbers with other developing nations. In the age group of 15-25 years, the literacy rate in India stands at around 83%. This is relatively low, given it is the age group containing the part of the population that will be responsible for shaping up India's future in the years to come.
Nearly 25% of India's population is in the age group of 6-23 years as of October 2019. With the economic state of the country in mind, giant steps are to be taken in the direction of providing quality and free education to every child in the country. Rural states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam are lagging when compared to other developed states which are more developed like Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Most of the rural youth are devoid of the education process due to lack of opportunities and financial resources. They take up menial jobs and move to other states which then contributes to a vicious cycle of the below-par education quality trap. The Indian government has come up with initiatives like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which is aimed at achieving quality education for all and is complemented in this effort by schemes on nutritional support, and teacher training.
Business implications and responses:
The world today is continuously striving for excellence, yet, a significant chunk of our society doesn't have access to quality education. Organizations today have started to recognize the importance of education in building community, and going by the age-old Indian culture, giving back to society is something that most organizations today believe in. Here are a few organizations who strive towards providing children with better education
- · Titan
Titan have been running multiple initiatives ranging from providing quality education to tribal children to giving away scholarships to the economically underprivileged. The initiative that they focus the most upon, the 'Titan Kanya' is dedicated towards educating the girl child- a problem prevalent across the country.
Titan have also partnered with the likes of Nanhi Kali, run by KC Mahindra Educated Trust (KCMET) in association with the Nandi Foundation in an attempt to reach their goals. They have also collaborated with IIMPact, an initiative of IIM Ahmedabad alumni to serve the same cause.
- · Arvind
Arvind have set up special 'Gyanda' institutions which run a hybrid course for the underprivileged, a mix of the education provided by school and tuitions in a compact time frame so that their families are more accepting towards educating them since only a little of their time gets used up. This initiative has been running for over a decade and a half and has positively affected the lives of over 6500 children.
- · Wonder Cement
Wonder Cement are here to re-emphasize equal treatment of all sections of society. By adopting government schools and running awareness programs, their purpose is to ensure that this fundamental right is rightfully utilized by the socially and economically backward sections of society so that they too have a secure future.
- · ITC
ITC's primary education project focuses on the weaker sections of society in the company's factory catchment areas. This initiative has helped around 775000 children across the country and is Operational in 26 districts of 13 States. They have provided infrastructural support for government primary schools comprising boundary walls, additional classrooms, and furniture, Making the total number of government primary schools covered till date to 1,842. The aim of the project also includes providing Sanitation infrastructure to the school, and for its maintenance.
- · TATA Motors
1. Augmenting Education System' VIDYADHANAM.'
This project aims to improve a school or college-going students' performance and retention rate by providing financial help or a particular coaching class as per the institute's need. The program has helped around 1.5 lakh students in the country and has improved pass percentage to 80% in fY20 from 55% in FY15. More than 44% of students could fetch more than 60% in their 10th standard pre-board exams in FY20.
2. Avanti:
Avanti aims at helping students from rural and financially underprivileged backgrounds and creates opportunities for students interested in Science and Mathematics, and prepares them to qualify for some of the world's most challenging selection tests – JEE and NEET entrance exams. Tata Motors provides essential service to JNV schools Science and Mathematics students. Several Avanti students have secured a place among the top 500 students enlisted nationally in the IIT Joint Entrance examination.
- · AstraZeneca
The company undertook a program to bring awareness to school children from underprivileged sections of the society on NCD related risk behavior such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, lack of physical exercise, and unhealthy eating. Under this program, the company cooperated with over 25 government/ community-run schools across cities. More than 700 employees came forward to contribute their time to this program.
Analysis and suggestions
Image courtesy: Titan
The companies' sustainability reports, particularly that of the Tatas, suggest that corporates are putting in substantial efforts to ensure access to education to the minority and the marginalized communities. These initiatives are indeed commendable as they are structured steps that align with SDG 4 – quality education.
Several targets are set for 2030, the most prominent of which are free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education for girls and boys. The facilitation of easy access to tertiary education, including University for all men and women, is yet another crucial target for bettering society's health.
Education of the girl child is a crucial sub-element of ensuring quality education for all. In a country where historically the education of the girl child was not given importance, there is a need for special attention aimed to evolve from this regressive thought.
It is worth appreciating Titan for addressing this issue specifically through their initiative – Titan Kanya. This initiative connected the company directly to 5000 girl children (of a target 10000) across the company to ensure education until class 10. Titan is targeting illiterate girls between the age of 6 and 14.
As the focus on girl child education takes centre stage, it would do a lot of good to expand the focus group and make it more inclusive. This would mean the inclusion of the disabled, tribals, trans, marginalized and traditionally oppressed communities under the umbrella of free and equitable education. While current initiatives do not necessarily exclude the mentioned groups, more focus on the same will help fasten the process.
Some companies like Tata Motors are leading in the inclusivity part of SDG, by providing financial assistance to various communities at various levels in their educational journey. The Asha Kiran School is aimed at building life skills for specially-abled till 20. After 20, they can undergo vocational skill training in START and earn a livelihood and live independently.
Another sub-element of the SDG is the quality of education. These corporates' initiatives must be constructed as a means to an end and not the end itself. This means that education must be an end-to-end process that incorporates vocational training and ensures the pass-outs are employable. This will also build a strong argument against child labour and convince the parents of such children to opt into these initiatives.
The recent introduction of New Educational Policy aims to restructure the educational system with an emphasis on skills than on marks. The policy has included the three years of pre-schooling into formal education, which are crucial for a child's holistic development. According to the Policy, Vocational training is mandatory at an early age, which builds the gap between knowledge and skill. The removal compartmentalization of subjects helps in pursuing various skills and interests. The flexible provision of degrees can help in earning a decent living. These reforms are aimed at "actually" achieving the SDG with the incentives of decent earnings owing to the skills, thus influencing parents to send children to schools. Corporate intervention, wherever possible in this setup, can change the education scenario in India swiftly and also can help in achieving the SDG.
Ultimately, education should be perceived as the most critical element of a child's development that is beneficial in the long run and almost always guarantees returns.
Education on sustainable development is yet another critical area that corporates must aim to champion. The reluctance of a vast majority to admit the gravity of the situation concerning climate change reflects how poorly informed the current generation stands. We must ensure that the same is not the case for the next generation by instilling the importance of sustainable development at the roots.
Among other things, the CoVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of digital literacy. The times are changing, and the education system must respond accordingly. Basic computer knowledge and an early glimpse into the digital world must be provided to the children regardless of background as part of their primary education. It is vital that the standards of education, the content of courses and the pedagogy actively evolves per the changes in the way the world works.
This
virtual learning can also be a solution in many ways. It can help deliver the
classes from the best teachers to students in lower-tier cities and villages
and help shed light on the talent residing in the heart of India. A smartphone
and an internet connection can open avenues to learning for everyone,
irrespective of the age, economic status, caste, gender and disability. A
little push from the government in actively pushing educational content and
corporates in increasing the accessibility of smartphones and the internet can
create wonders in the current scenario and thus achieve the SDG.
References:
5. Titan: Kanya Initiative, Tribal Education, Scholarships, Skill Development and other CSR Activities
7. Arvind Sustainability Report
8. https://www.fortuneindia.com/opinion/achieving-quality-education-in-india/103600
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