Ethical Responsibilities in Addressing Educational Inequality | 12 Nov 2024

National Education Day, celebrated on 11^th November, marks the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Minister of Education, who championed education as crucial for national progress. India has made substantial advancements in expanding educational access, yet significant challenges remain in achieving equitable, quality education for all. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, about 25% of youth cannot fluently read a Class II-level text in their regional language, and over 50% struggle with basic division (3-digit by 1-digit), with only 43.3% of 14-18-year-olds solving these problems correctly. Economic disparities, gender inequality, and regional divides further widen this gap, affecting both individual futures and national development. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 – ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education by 2030 – demands attention to ethical issues of equality in education. These inequalities not only violate the universal human right to education but also perpetuate poverty cycles, underscoring the moral imperative to make education accessible to all.

What are Ethical Perspectives on Equal Access to Quality & Affordable Education?

• Principle of Equality: The ethics of equality asserts that every individual, regardless of socio-economic status, gender, or geography, should have the same opportunity to access quality education.
  • In India, while students in urban areas and affluent families enjoy world-class private schooling with advanced infrastructure, children from low-income, rural, or marginalized communities are often relegated to overcrowded government schools with inadequate facilities.
  • The ethical question arising from this situation is that, is it fair and just to have the children born into wealthy families or urban areas receive significantly better educational opportunities than those born into poverty or rural areas, while having this disparity caused solely by the circumstances of their birth?
• Principle of Social Justice: Social justice as an ethical framework demands that society as a whole ensures that all individuals have access to the necessary resources to reach their full potential.
  • The government’s ethical responsibility lies in addressing these systemic disparities by ensuring that all children, irrespective of their caste, class, or gender, have equal access to educational opportunities.
  • The challenge lies in addressing social discrimination, such as caste-based and gender-based disparities, which continue to restrict educational access and perpetuate inequality.
• State Responsibility: The state has an ethical obligation to ensure the least advantaged members of society are provided with the means to improve their situation.
  • The Right to Education (RTE) Act enshrines this commitment, guaranteeing free education for children between the ages of 6 and 14. However, the quality of education provided remains a contentious issue, with many public schools struggling due to underfunding, poor teacher quality, and lack of infrastructure.
  • From an ethical perspective, it is not enough for the state to provide access to education, it must also ensure that education is high quality and affordable for all children.

What is the Need for Inclusive and Holistic Education?

• Equitable Quality Education: The principle of justice demands that education systems address disparities and provide all children with the opportunity to thrive. In India, socio-economic inequalities, caste-based discrimination, and regional imbalances create vast educational divides.
  • To uphold fairness and social justice, equitable education must ensure that all students, especially from marginalized communities, receive the same opportunities for learning and personal growth.
  • Equal access to quality education empowers individuals, promotes social mobility, and helps break the cycles of poverty and inequality, fostering a more just and inclusive society.
  • Rising education costs in both public and private sectors pose a significant challenge, particularly for students from lower-income families.
  • Ethical considerations require that both public and private education systems be structured to ensure affordability and inclusivity, providing a pathway to a better life for all.
• Moral Education: Moral education is essential for cultivating values like integrity, respect, empathy, and responsibility. From an ethical perspective, education must not only impart academic knowledge but also foster the development of ethical citizens who contribute positively to society.
  • Moral education helps children navigate complex social issues and make decisions grounded in fairness and compassion.
  • It promotes social harmony, respect for rights and dignity, and is essential in India’s diverse society for fostering unity across caste, religion, and gender.
  • Moreover, gender sensitization as part of moral education is key to addressing deeply ingrained patriarchy and promoting gender equality.
  • By teaching respect for all genders, it dismantles stereotypes and empowers both boys and girls to challenge discriminatory practices, promoting an inclusive and just society where all genders are treated with dignity.
• Vocational Training/Skill Development: In an increasingly competitive global economy, vocational training and skill development are essential for empowering individuals to secure employment and improve their socio-economic standing.
  • Skills development is crucial for creating a just society, where people are not excluded from economic opportunities based on their educational background.
  • Ethical principles of fairness and equal opportunity dictate that access to vocational training should be available to all, especially marginalized groups, to break barriers of poverty and unemployment.
• Affordable Education: Affordable education is an ethical imperative, as economic barriers often prevent deserving students from accessing quality learning opportunities.
  • Social justice demands that education should not be a privilege for the wealthy but a universal right for all, regardless of their financial circumstances.
• Environmental Education: Environmental education from an ethical perspective is vital to instilling a sense of responsibility toward the planet and future generations. The ethical principles of stewardship and sustainability demand that individuals recognize their duty to protect the environment.
  • When environmental degradation is rampant, it is essential to educate students about the consequences of unsustainable practices and the importance of preserving natural resources.
  • Environmental education fosters awareness about ecological justice, ensuring that future generations inherit a world capable of sustaining life.
  • It encourages responsible behavior and empowers students to make ethical decisions that contribute to environmental protection.
  • Through this education, students can develop a strong moral commitment to sustainable practices, ensuring the planet's well-being for all.

What Should be Way Forward?

• Responsibility of Policymakers (and Civil Servants)
  • Improving Education Quality: Policymakers have an ethical obligation to ensure every child has access to high-quality education that promotes critical thinking, life skills, and modern infrastructure.
  • Tackling Socio-Economic and Regional Disparities: Policymakers must address socio-economic and regional disparities through scholarships, basic infrastructure, and targeted policies for remote areas, also eliminating caste-based and gender-based discrimination.
  • Making Education Affordable: Education should be a universal right, not a privilege. Regulate fees in at least government aided private schools and increase funding for public education to make it affordable for all.
  • Vocational and Skill Development: Expand vocational education and skill training to offer job-ready skills, ensuring economic justice and personal development for non-academic paths.
  • Moral and Gender Sensitization: Incorporate moral education and gender sensitization into curricula to promote respect, equality, and responsibility.
  • Environmental Education: Integrate environmental awareness to foster responsibility for sustainability, climate change, and resource conservation.
• Responsibility of Society as a Whole in Promoting Access to Education
  • Improving Education Quality: Society should actively support educational institutions by volunteering, fundraising, and raising awareness about the importance of quality education for all.
  • Moral and Gender Sensitization: Community organizations and local leaders can promote gender equality in receiving educational opportunities.
  • Environmental Education: Local communities, parents, and NGOs can organize environmental education programs and promote sustainability.
  • Parental Engagement: Parents should engage with schools, support home learning, and advocate for better educational opportunities for all children.

Conclusion

National Education Day reminds us of the ethical responsibility to provide equitable, quality, and affordable education to all. As India progresses, it must address systemic inequalities in access, affordability, and quality. Ethical frameworks such as equality, social justice, and state responsibility demand action. Integrating moral education, gender sensitization, vocational training, and environmental awareness will empower future generations, break cycles of poverty, and create a just, inclusive society.