Second Chance Schooling for Women: A Case Study of India

Abstract

PCF10 Sub-theme: Fostering Lifelong Learning // Low levels of literacy in India with over 200 million illiterate women creates a negative impact not only on women’s own lives, their families but also on country’s economic development. According to the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) report, around 40 percent of adolescent girls in the age group of 15-18 are not getting education. The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) recognises the role of education in women’s lives considering gender as a cross cutting theme across all its activities. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is currently implementing a programme called Second Chance Education and Vocational Learning (SCE) with the active support of UN Women aimed at empowerment of the most marginalized women, using the pathways of learning, employment and entrepreneurship. SCE was implemented in 12 districts across 4 states of India– Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan, covering 200 villages. More than 2,500 rural girls have enrolled for the Programme. This is a qualitative study on 60 girls enrolled for the programme, based on focussed group discussions held telephonically with a group of five girls from each of the 12 districts. The findings of the study reveal several challenges faced by girls/women and different stakeholders in its implementation. The study suggests how this model may be up-scaled to other states of India as well. // Paper ID 0874