In Punjab give donation to associate your child with school, college

24 October, 2012

The education minister of Punjab has come up with a strange scheme and way to infuse resources into the state's education sector by garnering money from people who are willing to give donation if a school or college associates their institution with their child's name.

IT IS a novel though bizarre-sounding idea to bring revenue - but not through levying taxes to improve the state's educational institutions. What is in the eye of storm is bartering the reputation of the government to earn those needy bucks.

Recently, Punjab's Education Minister Sikander Maluka has come with a new proposal to improve the state's educational institutions. Those who want to have their beloved one's names to be part of the names of schools and colleges could do so by giving suitable donation in three brackets: Rs.10 lakh for a primary school, Rs.20 lakh for middle school and Rs.25 lakh for a senior secondary school and a whopping Rs.75 lakh for a college.

If competition starts for a particular school or college, the Punjab government may auction to get the highest amount. Suppose, a notorious criminal or politician wants to have his /her beloved's name to be part of that institution, he could easily do so by throwing the money at the educational institution. What message will this step send to the larger public?