Inequalities in Secondary Education: Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

Secondary education is an important stage in the school education ladder as it equips students with skills important for higher education and the labour market. Besides helping students to choose different career avenues, secondary education has a far reaching effect in developing a clear understanding on various socio-economic and political issues. It helps in empowering the marginalised communities and strengthens democratic values (World Bank, 2005). However, in India, for the past several years, policy and financial priorities accorded have been more in favour of elementary education than to the secondary education. Now that India has achieved near universalisation of elementary education, it is important that it focusses on providing quality secondary education to its growing young population. With so many stakes on the secondary education it is important to have a holistic approach towards secondary education that ensures accessibility to quality secondary education for all and the necessary skills that match with the dynamic world of work.