We have already taken note of the role of ICDS with regard to pre-school/non-formal education in West Bengal [i] , which in September 2003 accounted for about 350 projects and about 52,5000 AWCs. The population covered by ICDS has increased from 2.5 lakh to 5.2 crore during this period.
The
Sishu Siksha Karmasuchi (SSK) is another special scheme for providing basic
education to children who cannot be part of the
formal primary school system because
of various constraints. The programme envisages
setting up SSK units in any village with twenty or more children in the
age-group 5-9 years. Each SSK unit has a nine-member managing committee of which
three must be women and all the teachers ('sahayikas') are also women above the
age of 35 years. Currently about 8 lakh children are being taught at more than 11000 SSKs or Child Education Centres, girls
accounting for about 50 per cent of
total students. [ii]
The literacy campaign in the state passes through three successive stages : (I) Total Literacy Campaign(TLC); Post Literacy Programme (PLP) and Continuing Education Programme (CEP). Eleven districts have now reached the CEP stage. [iii]
Presently two national programmes address gaps in primary and secondary education in West Bengal, the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. DPEP was formally launched in 1997-98 and now covers about 24000 primary schools in 10 districts (Bankura, Birbhum,Koch Behar, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, Dakshin and Uttar Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Purulia). These districts were selected initially on the basis of low female literacy rates as compared to the national average.
Ø DPEP districts are reported to be making steady progress in enrolment, retention and awareness building regarding the need for girls' education and has benefited deprived and disabled children. [iv]
Ø Sarva Siksha Abhiyan is dedicated to expansion of elementary education.
Ø The National Programme for Education of Girls at Primary Level is functioning in 86 educationally backward Blocks in 12 districts of the state.
Ø
The state's Total Sanitation
Campaign (TSC)- in collaboration with Unicef and NGOs such as
Ramakrishana Mission etc.- lays special emphasis on building separate
toilets for girls in school premises.
Ø
The School Dress Programme
for all girls in primary schools aims to cover nearly 60 lakh children every
year.
Ø
More than 55000 primary
school teachers have been sensitized on gender issues with special focus on girl
children.
The discussion above makes it clear that important gains have been made in the field of women's literacy and education. Yet, much work remains to be done; for disparities persist. There is a clear divide marking the attainments of women and men, which tend to get sharpened by inequalities between different social groups ( such as scheduled castes , schedules tribes and minorities) and between different geographical areas by way of rural-urban or inter-district differentials. Eliminating inequalities is the only sure way of realising the SPAC goals of Universal Primary Education by 2006 and Universal Elementary Education by 2010 and building basic capabilities of women.