Achieving and sustaining universal primary education : international experience relevant to India

To achieve its goal of full enrollment of children aged six to eleven by 1990, and children aged six to fourteen by 1995, India must increase its enrollment from less than 80 percent to more than 100 percent in 10 years. Sustaining universal primary education also means reducing the high dropout rate (over 50 percent by grade five) to near zero for eight grades. To reach its targets India must: (i) back up policy with funding; (ii) encourage local accountability of teachers and administrators to communities; (iii) improve quality in the poorer schools and states to increase participation and retention rates on the primary schools; (iv) make curricula, instructional materials, and exams relevant to local students; and (v) make a special effort to provide organized day care to release young girls from their childcare responsibilities.