Under Free and Compulsory Education Scheme, all Children in the age group of 6-14 are to be provided Primary Education. In order to achieve the goal or universalisation of primary education, efforts are being made to increase retention of children in schools and increase the enrolment by opening new Primary Schools. Also provision of infrastructure in the existing primary schools, innovative approach in the schools and decentralised planning, irrespective of any social bias are included to achieve these goals.

The objective of free and compulsory education can be achieved by mobilising community support in the villages where large percentage of illiterate population resides. Certain pockets in the districts of Ferozepur, Mansa, Sangrur and Bhatinda have a very low literacy rate, especially amongst the Scheduled Casts and economically backward population.

In these areas certain incentive schemes have been introduced such as free residential school for day-scholars, non-formal education, stipends and scholarships, free books and mid-day meal. These incentives are not only for Scheduled Cast population but also for economically weaker section of the society.

To achieve the aim of universalisation of elementary education the Government of Punjab has taken the following steps:-

New Schools

• The State has opened primary schools in each habitat village with a minimum enrolment of 50 students.
  
• In Scheduled Caste bastis and remote hilly areas the State Government has opened either branch schools or full-fledged schools even for less than 50 students. This way the students do not have to walk to school for more than one kilometre.
  
• In order to cater to the educational needs of the sub-mountainous area, Kandi, Bate, Scheduled Caste bastis and New colonies which crop up due to migratory population from other states, new Govt. primary schools have been opened in 1997-98.
  
• It is also proposed to provide buildings to various building-less schools
  
• Toilets and drinking water facilities are being provided in each school.
  
• Pupil/ teacher ratio of 1/40 is being adopted in Government primary schools under the rationalisation of transfer policy.

All the surplus teachers have been posted to staff deficient schools. All these efforts have been made to improve the enrolment and retention of children in the primary schools