EDUCATION AND CULTURE

GENERAL EDUCATION

Literacy: Substantial progress in the field of education has been made, specially in literacy during the last decade in the district. The literacy percentage in this district has increased five times during the last forty years. Female literacy rate especially has shown a remarkable improvement from 1.20 per cent in 1931 to 26.48 per cent in 1971. The scheme of the compulsory primary education for children of the age-group of 6-14 has partly contributed to the striking improvement of literacy in the district. The percentage of literacy for males and females in the district is shown in the following statement for the period from 1901 to 1971.

The region covering almost the whole of Akola tahsil and the adjoining northern parts of Murtizapur tahsil is the most literate area in the district. The literacy rate drops down beyond this region, in the north as well as towards the south. Literacy percentage is lowest in the southern most areas of the Washim tahsil; It is also interesting to note that within the district, Akola tahsil has the highest literacy for male and female population, for rural areas. Akot tahsil has the highest literacy rates while, for the urban areas Akola has highest literacy rates for male and female population. On the side of the age-group, the literacy rate were high for males in both the age-groups 5-14 and 15-34, while for females the rates of literacy in the age-group of 5-14 Were higher in 1961. This shows that educational improvement as regards male population started some forty years ago and that of females comparatively in recent years. The following table shows the classification of literates in different degrees:―

TABLE No. 1

Classification of Literates in Akola District as per 1961 Census

TABLE No. 1—Contd.

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