Everyone knows the state of
our elementary, primary and secondary education in this country. Barring some
convents and well-run government schools or aided schools depending upon the
management or the head of the school or the local authorities there, poor
children are certainly being denied of affordable quality education. Even very
poor people are forced to send their children to convents paying huge fees
even-though it remains a huge burden on them. Poor people are thinking that the
Government schools can not offer good quality education and there is no meaning
in sending their children to state-run schools. They have two options. One is
to spend huge money some-how and get their children educated in private schools
and secondly, planning an alternative lively-hood for their children which does
not warrant academic qualification. This is the reality today unfortunately. If
we think as to how to correct this menace, its a difficult issue. In some
cases, there is good infrastructure and faculty; and the facilities
are being under-utilized. In some cases, there is no infrastructure, planning
or faculty. Its a huge problem and we can not deny basic and affordable
education to our children. State Governments have a huge role to play in
providing good quality education to the children in Government or
aided-schools. Recruitment of quality faculty is another bigger issue
that needs to be addressed. State Governments should focus on recruiting good
quality teachers, and then, should have a proper and workable plan in order to
ensure good quality education to poor children in Government Schools. I don't
think that rich and middle-class prefer sending their children to Government
Schools now-a-days and even poor people do not prefer to send their children to
Government schools. If recruitment in Government Schools are to be improved and
the public confidence to be regained, then, Governments should have a plan to
recruit good quality teachers and then, should focus
on English subject also and so that, at-least a student will be in a
position to understand English by the time he reaches 7th standard.
Every Government
School Government School
Imparting quality education
to poor children may not be a election issue, but, its a big social
responsibility and its about the future of our nation. We can not deny
education to our children just because they are poor. Instead of talking about
un-employment remuneration, we should give incentives to poor families for
sending their children to school. If the Government plans to improve the
recruitment in government schools and focuses on quality, I don't think the
'Teachers' Association' will oppose these moves. Because, if recruitment of
children in Government Schools comes-down to a threshold percentage, then,
there may not be any fresh recruitment and it will be difficult for
the Government to recruit teachers afresh and give them salaries without
any work. State Governments can make this as an election issue also by planning
events in villages and small-towns through Government machinery and
by going for adds in the local channels.
Actually, State Governments
should think about bringing a regulation that anyone who wants to be recruited
as a teacher should compulsorily send their children to either Government or
state-run schools. If we bring this kind of regulation to all the government
employees, then, the whole education in Government schools will change
automatically. We need to do something to address this problem.
There is another problem
with percentage of marks. Private Schools focus on getting good percentages and
there is a perception that marks can be managed with the concerned boards.
As weightage is given to percentage of marks, schools are competing
to get percentages some-how and private schools are very good at this. At the
national level, there should be a debate on this and we may have to think about
not giving any weightage to the marks in getting admissions to colleges and for
government recruitments. If we give weightage to marks, our private
schools which are pure business entities can some-how get the percentages; whereas
our Government Schools may not be bothering at these issues. Its another big
malice. Our problem is that our educational ministers may not have any greater
understanding or concern at these issues and still may claim to be an
educational minister administering education in a particular state. Very
unfortunate, but, its a reality. Our educational system is in a total mess and
there is no discussion and there is no intention to correct this mess.
One-thing is sure that
education has become so costly and there is a bad perception about the
education being imparted in state-run schools. If poor people have to spend
huge money on their children's basic education and on health-care, coupled with
inflation factors, there won't be any savings and actually, this is what is
happening in most parts of the country. Poor people, now-a-days, are not sure
of getting their children educated due to cost and other factors.
I strongly believe that
situation will change one-day and there will be a nation-wide debate on this
issue with clear intention. There is no point in being happy at 7% or 8% growth
if we don't understand the ground realities and as to what the people are
feeling.
Health-care is another
bigger problem. However, as it seems, the only option for affordable
health-care is to produce enough quality doctors and providing incentive to
them to start their own practice. So that, there will be many hospitals in
small-towns and major villages, and as such a result cost factor will
come-down. Understanding medical issues is complex and even doctors do not
understand certain issues. People may not be in a position to understand
medical issues and demand accountability either in Government-Hospitals or Private Hospitals
Good quality and affordable
education should remain as a focus issue for every citizen in this country
irrespective of caste and religion etc. Its a very important subject than even
health-care.
Dr.Ambedkar could
contribute so much to the society only because of his education and we may
loose so many Ambedkars if we forget providing good quality education to
poor-children. Since Dr.Ambedkar is affected by barbaric social practices
existed then, he has done so much to improve the social conditions of dalits
and they are a big political force today. In the same way, chances are high
that if people who knows poverty assumes significant positions in society, they
will transform this society in true spirit while some of the people with
rich-background acts as if they are social-reformers for name and fame.
Note: the views expressed are my personal and do not represent anyone or
organization.
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