Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community better than when you found it.
Marian Wright Edelman
Rural VS Urban: Major differences
Education Style
Urban schools have a more advanced level of education. They have adopted modern ways of teaching like conceptional learning while rural schools stick to traditional methods of teaching.
Teachers
Teachers in urban areas gain a higher income compared to rural areas. They also have access to laptops and printers to enhance their teaching, giving them a more comprehensive education.
Infrastructure
Rural schools often have little to no furniture. In urban areas, the school infrastructure is of higher quality compared to rural schools.
Computer Education
In urban areas, computer education is given higher importance compared to rural areas where few school can teach basic computer skills.
Co-Curricular Activities
Urban areas are able to host co-curricular activities for children. Rural schools don't have the funding to provide them.
Problems with Rural Schooling
Over the last couple of years, India’s literacy rate has increased. However, it does not meet the quality of education children need to thrive in the modern day. The majority of India’s population lives in rural areas. Education in rural India is of lower quality compared to education in urban areas of India. If quality education is not accessible to a majority of the county, then the majority of people will not develop the skills to help themselves and the country.
The main reason education is not accessible in rural areas is due to a lack of schools. The amount of schools in rural areas is very little, especially in comparison to the number of urban schools. Along with that, rural schools don’t have transportation available for students traveling to and from school, so they have to walk long distances to reach school. These circumstances make parents hesitant about keeping their children in school. Although they have to walk long distances, the quality of school available is very low.
Most schools in villages often have poor infrastructure, lacking doors and windows. Students also sit on the floor because there are no chairs or couches. Teachers working in rural areas get a very low income, therefore, they are not incentivized to teach their students well. They often slack off, teach poorly, or don’t come to school at all. Unfortunately, rural schools are also unable to provide children with co-curricular activities like sports and competitions. These activities help spark interest in learning and are important for an individual child’s growth.
Another problem in the rural education system in India is the lack of sufficient funds. Without proper funding, how are schools supposed to give children the quality education they need? Uplift a School is trying to help schools and children start small by supplying them with money for blackboards and benches. Together we can help children thrive in school and in life, one school at a time.
Sources: http://researchjournal.co.in/upload/assignments/4_115-119.pdf
Damaged roof of a building of an elementary school