As per the constitution of India, education is a fundamental right – the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002 added Article 21A to the Indian Constitution, as per which, the state has to provide free and compulsory education to children between the ages of 6 and 14. In the year, 2009, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) was passed by Parliament, which speaks about the minimum norms for elementary schools and sets norms for schools and methods of teaching.

Although the rules and regulations as well as the legislation is in place, there are several children in our country, who are still out of school or have had to dropout. This is all the more prominent in rural parts of the country, where education might actually be the key to breaking the cycles of poverty and empowering communities.

The problem is often a simple one – poor infrastructure creates barriers to learning; lack of proper classrooms, sanitation facilities, drinking water, and transportation often discourages attendance, especially for girls and younger children.

Challenges to the educational infrastructure in India

Without a doubt, there is a link between the infrastructure of the schools and the dropout rates and here are the main challenges: 

Dilapidated classrooms: Many rural schools in India lack adequate space and means for maintenance and upgradation, forcing students to learn in overcrowded classrooms or even unsafe conditions. 

Insufficient sanitation facilities: Several schools don’t have proper toilets, especially separate toilets for girls and boys. This lack of separate and hygienic toilets for girls is a significant factor leading to dropouts, particularly once they start menstruating.

Limited access to safe drinking water: Drinking water is a must, no matter where you are, and when schools are not able to ensure clean drinking water to the students, it becomes a problem. Schools without potable water also pose health risks, which in turn leads to absenteeism. 

Lack of electricity: Due to their locations, rural schools particularly face the brunt of extreme weather patterns, such as extreme heat, rain and cold. The result? Close the windows, close the doors. But with fractured electricity access, load shedding, and poor means to sustain the facility, classrooms drop into darkness. Without electricity, there is also the inability to use technology as a learning aid to ensure students have access to equitable resources. 

Poor connectivity: More than the actual infrastructure, the problem for several children in rural India is the access to the schools. Long distances and unsafe routes to school make attendance difficult, particularly for girls. 

The absence of reliable infrastructure creates a domino effect – students face barriers to regular attendance, teachers struggle to provide quality education and eventually parents lose faith in the school’s ability to secure their children’s future, leading to dropouts.

The benefits and importance of school infrastructure

So, what needs to be done, because there is no denying that education is the foundation to building not only a better community, but also a stronger country. 

It is actually simple – enhanced school infrastructure can not only ensure that dropout rates are reduced but also possibly improve admission rates too. 

Here is what needs to be done:

There has to be an investment in basic amenities – There is a need to ensure that all schools have essentials like functional classrooms, proper seating, safe drinking water, and clean restrooms. These are fundamental to creating a conducive learning environment.

Leveraging sustainable power solutions – There is an urgent need to introduce renewable energy systems such as solar panels in schools to ensure uninterrupted electricity for lighting, fans, and digital learning tools. 

Promotion of resource equity – If there is an effort to bridge the gap between rural and urban schools by providing equitable access to learning materials, qualified teachers, and even a range of extracurricular facilities, we could see a change in the educational system of the country. 

Focus on integration of technology – By equipping schools with technology, in the form of computers, internet access, and e-learning platforms, there will not only be an enhancement in digital literacy, but also functional literacy, as this will definitely improve future opportunities. 

Monitoring and maintaining infrastructure – Regular audits of school facilities, including the physical infrastructure, can help identify gaps and if the same are addressed promptly, a sustained improvement in the learning environment can be ensured. 

Community, government and organisational partnerships – The task of maintaining schools and ensuring that the local children get a proper education is not only that of the parents or the government. There is a need to encourage everyone – local communities, non-profits and the local government bodies – to work in tandem to ensure that schools are places of learning and joy! 

NGOs like Project Chirag have been working with local communities to bring into action all these points, but there is still a long way to go

But why even consider enhanced school infrastructure benefits? 

Investing in the educational infrastructure in India is not just about reducing dropout rates; it has far-reaching implications: 

  • It is simple – with better facilities, children are more likely to continue their education and complete higher grades.
  • With a comfortable and safe learning environment, children will be able to focus better and that could lead to improved academic performance.
  • Education enables children to access better job opportunities, breaking generational poverty cycles. 
  • An educated population can turn into a skilled workforce, which in turn can contribute to rural economic development as well as nation building. 
  • Education is essential to gender equality, because improved facilities encourage girls to stay in school, reducing early marriages and promoting women’s empowerment. 
  • Access to clean water and sanitation can help reduce disease prevalence, improving the overall quality of life in rural communities, especially for children. 

We at Project Chirag understand the true importance of school infrastructure and working towards ensuring that children have the opportunity to earn the education they deserve. So, when you donate to solar panel project for school, you are not only bringing electricity, but also hope for a brighter and better future.

Stories of change