The purpose of this study was to examme the alternative educationalrnstrategies available to rural girls and women ~d to propose the appropriaternmeasures to be taken ahead.rnThe study has involved 116 girl pupils and dropouts, 100 NFBE learners,rn91 educational experts and 18 community representatives. The necessaryrninformation was secured from these subjects through questionnaires, structuredrninterviews and document analysis. In addition, education statistics annualrnabstracts of the MOE and OEB were used to obtain the necessary data regardingrnpupils' rate of particiaption in lower primary cycle. As the findings of this studyrnindicates, the majority of the factors affecting girls' schooling in rural areas arerneconomical and attitudinal. It has become evident from the outcomes of the studyrnthat for a girl whose educational decision is in the hands of her parents a freernprimary school across the road was found to be inaccessible. Therefore, thernconstruction of more schools and facilities was proved not to increase the rate ofrngirls' participation in basic education. Various educational options were proposedrnby the subjects: ungraded village schools, boarding primary schools, segregatedrnschools for females, multiple teaching and multiple shift, flexible schedules,rnshorter school-day, home teaching etc., which need more attention from policyrnmakers and educational planners.rnIn general, the promotion of equal opportunity for access to basicrneducation was found to concern three major areas: the flexibility of therneducational program to be provided, the relevance and adaptability to the needs ofrnthe target group, and integrated approach of the concerned groups