A STUDY OF FUNCTIONING OF SMDC FOR UNIVERSALISATION OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

Abstract

In today’s era, education is considered to be the most powerful and dominant tool for social, economic, and political transformation of any country. As Report of the University Education Commission (1948-49) states that “The most important and urgent reform needed in education is to transform it, to endeavor to relate it to the life, needs and aspirations of the people and thereby make it the powerful instrument of social, economic and cultural transformation necessary for the realization of the national goals. For this purpose, education should be developed so as to increase productivity, achieve social and national integration, accelerate the process of modernization and cultivate social, moral and spiritual values”. The educational system varies from country to country and same is the case with the education of our country. The educational system of India is sub-divided into four major fragments namely pre-primary education (3-6yrs), elementary education (6- 14yrs), secondary education (14-18yrs) and higher education (above 18yrs). The highest priority in our country was given to the expansion and promotion of the elementary education and adult education. Whereas it is equally important to improve secondary education so that after leaving school the child is ready to enter new world of work with confidence, intelligence, self-reliance, motivation, enthusiasm and well equipped with general knowledge and relevant skills required to live a healthy economic life.