Despite having one of the quickest economies in the world, India’s education system still needs help to meet the needs of the nation’s expanding population. Even though the government has, throughout the years, made enormous expenditures in education, there are still a great deal fewer schools and competent instructors, especially in metropolitan areas.
Calling Out the Transportation Problem Which Affects the Indian Education System
India must prioritise building additional schools with a focused urban planning agency to overcome this problem. The COVID-19 epidemic helped to bring to light the disparities in access to education in India, making the need for better urban planning and infrastructure to support education more urgent than ever.
Building new schools with a specialised urban planning division is a better way to address these problems. A department like this should ensure that the construction of schools is in places with good connections, transportation, and infrastructure. Additionally, they can guarantee that schools have the necessities like power, running water, and toilets.
Though, many schools provide transportation facilities, for which they charge an extra amount. While huge educational institutions use buses for transportation, small schools use magic or van, such as Tata Magic Express School Van, which is convenient and affordable.
Data & Statistics of Various Transportation
Only 65% of Indian families have access to the Internet, and only 24% of rural households have computers, according to a survey by the National Statistical Office. This digital gap has significantly hampered the pandemic’s widespread use of remote learning.
Additionally, according to a survey by the National Sample Survey Office, 40% of schools in India lack separate restrooms for females, while close to 50% lack access to drinking water facilities. These fundamental infrastructure problems reduce educational quality and increase dropout rates, especially for female students.
Additionally, these divisions can work closely with school administration to ensure the planning of facilities is sustainable, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient. This can save operational expenses for schools while simultaneously minimising their environmental impact.
Transportation Affecting India’s Educational Situation
With 260 million students registered and more than 1.5 million schools, India has one of the largest educational systems in the world. The system, especially in rural regions, needs help to offer its pupils a high-quality education.
Lack of access to education, particularly among females and marginalised areas, is one of the biggest problems facing the education system. UNESCO Institute for Statistic’s study estimates that in India, approximately 32 million children of primary school age do not attend school. Furthermore, only 83% of kids finish their elementary education due to the high dropout rate in primary schools.
Since many schools need more proper facilities, skilled instructors, and resources, the quality of education is also an issue. In India, over 45% of schools have just one teacher, and about 30% of instructors in government schools lack trained teachers, as per a study from the Ministry of Education.
Transportation Affecting India’s Overall GDP
These difficulties substantially affect the growth of India’s economy and human capital. According to a World Bank analysis, India might lose its potential GDP growth by 2 to 3% per year due to poor educational opportunities. In addition, a study by the McKinsey Global Institute projected that India’s GDP could increase by $2.2 trillion by 2030 only by raising academic standards.
The COVID-19 epidemic has drawn more attention to the already-present disparities in India’s educational system. According to a survey by Oxfam India, just 24% of rural households have access to a computer for online learning, widening the education gap between children in rural and urban regions.
Planning For Cities and Education
Urban planning is essential to advancing education and raising the standard of living for both students and instructors. While having access to a high-quality education may also encourage economic growth and development, well-designed and planned schools can favour student accomplishment.
Several nations utilise urban planning effectively to raise educational standards. India must prioritise urban planning for education to overcome the issues plaguing its educational system. More schools must be built, and those already there must be placed in regions with good infrastructure and access to transit due to rising urbanisation and population.
Additionally, to guarantee that schools are created to satisfy children’s and instructors’ requirements, the government must invest in high-quality school infrastructure and collaborate with nearby communities.
Additionally, by ensuring that schools have access to high-speed Internet and other digital technology, urban planning may aid in bridging the digital divide. This can support remote learning and guarantee all students equal access to education regardless of location.
Creating an Urban Planning Department Specifically for Education
Numerous advantages might result from setting up an urban planning division for schooling in India. Such a division would concentrate solely on solving the education industry’s difficulties, such as lack of access, inadequate facilities, and subpar instruction.
The ability to guarantee that schools are constructed in places with simple access to public transit and other services is the main advantage of having a specific department for urban planning for education. This may support ensuring that kids from all backgrounds have equitable access to education regardless of where they live. A department like this may also ensure that the construction of schools has the right resources and facilities to satisfy the requirements of both instructors and pupils.
Conclusion
India’s human capital and economy depend on education to grow, and funding educational planning and infrastructure is a censorious first step in securing the nation’s future prosperity. It is high time for India to prioritise the construction of new schools with a separate urban planning department to guarantee that all kids have access to high-quality education.
By ensuring that schools are constructed in locations with simple access to public transit and other services and are intended to satisfy the requirements of students and instructors, urban planning plays a significant role in promoting education.