|
Poor literacy major problem for Indian youths, says report
Thursday April 19, 2012 09:05:19 PM,
IANS
|
|
|
|
|
New Delhi: Poor
literacy remains a major hurdle for Indian youths in terms of
employment opportunities and levels of education in India are
greatly influenced by gender, caste and class differences, says a
new report.
The Opportunity for Action Report, released in Washington by
Microsoft and International Youth Foundation this week, a copy of
which is with IANS, says in India an estimated 270 million people
aged 15 and older remain illiterate.
Nearly two percent of India's population, or about 240 million
people, are youth aged 15 to 24. Women aged 15 to 24 are twice as
likely to remain illiterate and factors like caste and class
affect education opportunities greatly, the report reveals.
"On average, young people in India receive just over seven years
of education. But levels of educational attainment are strongly
predicted by caste, class, and gender. The wealthiest 20 percent,
for example, attend 11 years of school, whereas the poorest
quintile averages only four years," the report says.
"Girls in India's rural areas average fewer than three years of
education. Girls from scheduled tribes and castes report that
stigmatisation and social exclusion frequently prevent them from
attending school," it says.
Adding to that, the attendance rates for girls have declined since
1999, and currently fewer than 25 percent girls in India attend
vocational training.
In the second year of the Right to Education Act, which makes it
the state's responsibility to give education to all between age
six to 14, India has only 17 percent of its school passouts going
to colleges. The government aims to increase this to 30 percent by
2030.
A programme to create a vocational education framework is also
under way to give skill training to youths who do not want to opt
for traditional education.
The report shows that among working youths approximately one in
four is illiterate, and fewer than one in five completes secondary
education.
The education deficit is not filled by technical and vocational
education and training (TVET), however, only six percent of urban
youth and three percent of rural youth attend TVET at the
secondary level.
According to Census 2011 data, around 74 percent of the Indian
population is literate.
Globally, as the youth population of 1.2 billion - the largest in
history - grows over time, the gap risks widening even further
between those with opportunity and those without, a new report
reveals.
"Unemployment rate for youth is currently 12.7 percent, or more
than double the six percent global average for unemployment as a
whole," the report adds.
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
 India creates history, tests 5,000 km Agni-V missile
India Thursday created history with the successful
testing of the much awaited Agni-V long-range ballistic
nuclear-capable missile, described as 'China killer', that
»
PM hails Agni-V milestone
India no rival, says China as daily slams 'missile delusion'
|
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
 Apex court seeks time frame for deciding mercy pleas
The Supreme Court Thursday asked the
government to set a time frame for deciding death row convicts'
mercy petitions pending before it. "You give us the time frame for
deciding
»
|
|
13 Mumbai college-goers kill friend
Yet another
gory murder shocked Mumbaikars when at least 13 teenagers clubbed
to death a 17-year-old boy who had allegedly used expletives
against the mother and girlfriend of one of the attackers, police
said Thursday. While police have nabbed three of the attackers,
including the prime conspirator, a manhunt has been
»
|
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
Clamour
for Muslim mayor in Prabhani grows
Upbeat by the large number of Muslim candidates wining the recently held civic
elections in Prabhani, the community now wants to see a Muslim on
the post of first Mayor of the town which was accorded minority
»
|
|
Asia's largest solar park functional in
Gujarat
A 600 MW
solar power park, touted as Asia's first and largest, was Thursday
dedicated to the nation by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in
the state's Patan district, in a boost to India's efforts towards
low carbon growth.
»
|
|
151 Bihar primary teachers fail test, sacked
The Bihar
government has sacked 151 primary school teachers after they
failed to clear two consecutive eligibility tests, officials
Thursday said. The education department has ordered that they be
sacked after they failed two
»
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
India successfully flight-tested the Long Range Ballistic
Missile (LRBM) Agni-V (A-5) from wheeler’s island, in Odisha
on April 19, 2012. With the launch, India stormed into an
exclusive club of nations, including US, Russia and China.
(Photo: DPR (MOD))
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links