Tackling caste inequality in higher education requires fixing school foundations first

The persistence of caste-based discrimination in higher education cannot be resolved in isolation, according to analysts. A comprehensive approach must begin with strengthening the foundational education system, they argue.

Experts emphasize that universal, compulsory, and free education in high-quality government schools is essential to address the broader inequality that enables caste discrimination to persist at the tertiary level. The systemic disadvantages faced by students from marginalized communities begin in primary schooling and compound through their academic journey.

Without robust intervention at the school level, corrective measures at universities remain insufficient to level the playing field. A holistic strategy targeting educational equity from the ground up is therefore necessary to meaningfully tackle caste-based disparities in higher education.