The Indian government has recently introduced reservation of 25 per cent in private and public schools for nursery students from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). But isn't it better to strengthen..
THE EDUCATION scenario in India is experiencing a paradigm shift. After the Right to Education has come to effect, HRD Minister Mr. Kapil Sibbal seems to have taken an oath to give a facelift to the Indian education scenario.
This was essentially his new year resolution for the year 2010. According to Mr. Sibbal, “ India needs to raise its strength of Ph.D scholars from a mere 1000 per year to atleast 23,000 per year to catch up with china and other countries. 15 years back, China and India were at the same level and China has surged much ahead of India due to its national integration.After the implementation of Right to Education Act the Ministry of Education is leaving no stone unturned to ‘show’ the people that their money is being put to a better use for nation building.The present policy of nursery admissions are the most talked about issue in the present times. A provision of reservation of 25 per cent of the total available seats for nursery class in private schools has been made to provide an equal opportunity to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) children. In order to encourage and enable the children from economically weaker sections to step forward and learn in reputed schools, the government has taken this step to empower students from weaker sections and liberalize education in private schools for all.Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said that the government would give fee assistance of about Rs. 1200 to Rs. 1500 per EWS child monthly to the total annual implication this fees would be around Rs. 1 crore. These kids would also be provided with free education from class nursery to class XIIth.The government is attempting to link the children from EWS to public schools. Private and public schools are generally able to provide quality education and better infrastructure, which is like a dream come true for parents. Definitely, it is a great step by the government schools, and the new nursery admissions policy might not be required.Government schools remain infamous for their poor infrastructure and personnel. The sour-cream walls, rickety swings, old toys and books, littered play areas, strict and unfriendly teachers are some of the characteristics of typical government schools all over the country. Such an ineffective ambience cannot attract a 3-year-old child. Even if the mid- day meal scheme and cash reward for girl child brings the children to these schools, the poor infrastructure and loud and unfriendly teachers restrain them from falling in love with school and studies.The working and operations in development of infrastructure runs at the speed of a Sloth Bear. Every expenditure for the development of infrastructure, every plan for changes in the schools needs assent of every concerned person in authority. High rate of corruption adds to the plight of government schools.Good teachers and good staff makes up a good school that is capable of transforming the students. Government schools still remains centers for training for newly eligible , inexperienced teachers. When students start developing a liking for a teacher, he/she gets replaced by another trainee, it does affects their studies badly. The teacher –student ratio in government schools are a complete mess.One of the main reasons why parents place government schools last on their list is due to the reason that most of the government schools are not English- medium. Even the poorest of the poor parents would like to send their kids to English –medium schools as globalization of Indian economy is providing better job opportunities. For better wages and better life, people of Economically Weaker sections are willing to step up and make their children keep in pace with times. The step taken by the government will definitely help the 25 per cent of selected EWS children in each of the private school, but the scope of better and quality education would have been much wider if government schools could match up the quality of education provided in private schools. If government schools were made to maintain high standards of education, providing better opportunities to children from all the sections of the society. Better infrastructure in government schools is capable of tempting the people and will definitely foster interest in education among the students.The government should try to spend more on government schools and on better training for teachers. A better ambience, better facilities and better teachers and personnel will definitely foster better understanding and better education. The government should realize that instead of spending individually on EWS students in private schools, government should spend on giving a facelift to government schools.
