Declining Public Funding and Increasing Private Expenditure in Neo-Liberal Regime: Challenges Ahead for Universalisation of Secondary Education

Abstract

This chapter critically examines challenges of universalization of secondary education in India, especially after the implementation of universalization of elementary education in India in the context of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 and Smagara Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). This chapter also analyses the three prominent challenges:(i) declining government expenditure for education including secondary education; (ii) increase in private expenditure in education including secondary education in poverty driven hierarchical society, (iii) existing social–economic inequalities and exclusions in the school education including secondary education. For resolving the stated challenges for universaliation of secondary education under SSA and SDG 4, author argues for two policy implications: (i) expand public funding for ensuring inclusive quality education to all for universalization of secondary education and (ii) introduction of Common School System (CSS) for universalization of secondary education to use human potential and capability to achieve SDG 4 by 2030.