Colonial remnants in Afro-Asian system of education: Evidence from educational exclusion of rural women in Punjab

Abstract

Education is recognized worldwide as fulcrum around which the development of nation revolves. Since independence, in Afro-Asian countries, the inherited colonial systems were expanded and modified to serve new economic and social needs identified by subsequent governments. This paper using the secondary data sources discusses the education system in Afro Asian Countries in colonial as well as post colonial period. The analysis reveals that colonial hegemony is visible in post colonial education system and its inherent remnants of policies of exclusion. Further, an empirical evidence of rural women in Indian Punjab is presented. Qualitative and quantitative information reveal that educational status of rural Indian women is abysmally low. The dismal status of education in rural women is witnessed with acute illiteracy, low level of education and high drop out among girl child. Major constraints for poor levels of education are; weak socio economic status, poverty in the family, parental illiteracy, distance of educational institution from village, social barriers, negative attitude of parents towards girls’ education, un-safety, cost of education, lack of employment opportunities and social issues like dowry etc. It is observed that after independence all Afro-Asian countries invested heavily in educational expansion and diversification, but the system has failed to provide equal opportunities to people.