Why do you think do parents accord less priority to girls education as compared to boys? Discuss in the class.

What is the per capita income of Himachal Pradesh? Do you think higher incomes can make it easier for parents to send children to school? Discuss. Why was it necessary for the government to run schools in Himachal Pradesh?

Do you think there are certain other aspects, other than those discussed in the chapter that should be considered in measuring human development?

In what respect is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different from the one used by the World Bank?

What lessons can you draw about the importance of income from the fact that Himachal Pradesh with lower per capita income has a better human development ranking than Punjab?

Why do you think do parents accord less priority to girls education as compared to boys? Discuss in the class.

How does the gender bias affect when the women work out side of the home?

Based on the figures in Table 6, fill the following:

Out of every 100 girls above 6 years of age, ______girls had studied beyond the primary level in Himachal Pradesh in the year 1993. By the year 2006, this proportion reached _____ out of 100. For India as a whole, the proportion of boys who had studied beyond primary level was only _____out of 100 in the year 2006.

Usually, behind each social phenomenon, there would be several contributing factors, and not one. What in your opinion are the factors that came together for the development of schooling in Himachal Pradesh?

Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development.

In the class 8th you read about the Right to Education Act. In the light of what you have read in this chapter and already know, discuss the importance of this Act for (i) children, and (ii) human development.