Abstract:
For the achievement of human security, it is essential to uphold and respect the dignity
of human beings and the same is possible, only if one understands about the human
rights of every other human being. This is possible only when one is literate enough to
learn, which means when he or she is educated. Education comprises not only higher
and technical education but also primary education. It is only with good primary
education that, one can have the edge to go in for higher education. The necessity of
primary education is always there and is sure to remain. It is the backbone of the
education system of any country and India is no exception. Good primary education
means not only universal education but also education in its entirety which includes
quality education which is value-based. The government has come up with many
initiatives since the National Policy on Education (NPE) of 1986 and the Programme
2 of Action (POA) in 1992 to promote primary education in our country. Since 1987,
initiatives have been taken by the government in the nature of Operation Blackboard
Scheme, Scheme of Restructuring and Reorganization of Teacher Education, Learning
Without Burden, Joyful Learning, Programme for Mass Orientation of School teachers
Primary Education Programme (DPEP), Special Orientation Programme for primary
Teachers (SOPT), Minimum Levels of Learning (MLL), Mid-day Meal Programme,
the Janashala Programme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). The ASER report states that
while children have access to schools and are going to schools, the negative point is
that they are not learning well. Thus, this aspect needs some serious thinking. Also, for
some children in our country primary education will be terminal. It is, therefore,
important that it equips them fully to face the challenges of life ahead. Besides this,
primary education lays the foundation of all subsequent education, i.e., secondary and
- university education. According to the National Curriculum Framework (NCF, 2000),
at the upper primary stage children endeavour to establish an identity of their own. The
, process of identity formation requires taking into account one's own view as well as the
views of others and of the society.
