Just to give you some data; according to current estimates, 80% of all schools are government schools making the government the major provider of education. However, because of poor quality of public education, 27% of Indian children are privately educated.
If we start questioning; why is quality of teaching that bad in government schools? I see following reasons:
1. Number of students too high
2. Poor level of teacher training
3. Not so committed teaching faculty (doesn’t apply to all the teachers)
4. For many schools; no proper infrastructure to run the schools
When the student population is too high, teachers can only spend their time to just control them. When I was in the primary school, we had only 4 class rooms and 5 teachers. 1st and 2nd standard students were combined and similarly 3rd and 4th. For each class there were at least 70-80 students and imagine how can a teacher deliver his duty? Though government has spent enough money to build extra class rooms and to hire new faculty the substantial increase in the number of students has kept the quality of education at the same level.
On the other side; there is a scarcity for quality teachers. This is due to the fact teachers training is not up to the mark and also the dedication and commitment of many teachers is questionable when it comes to learning new things to enhance their teaching ability.
The other important aspect is; in most of the government schools, given the cultural and linguistic diversity of India, students are taught in their regional language (some central govt run schools like Navodaya.. teach in English but it is an exception) and this is the differentiating factor while getting high profile jobs.
Contrary to this; private schools have better infrastructure, good teaching faculty and most of the private schools teach in English language and offer CBSE and ICSE syllabus. It has been pointed out that private schools cover the entire curriculum and offer extra-curricular activities. This basically makes the private school students competent enough.
One can argue that we had seen many people in India who have studied in the government schools and attained highest job. But the fact is that the % is too low and maybe it was fine in the past where in there were not many private schools and the quality of education was almost same for all.
If we start questioning; why is quality of teaching that bad in government schools? I see following reasons:
1. Number of students too high
2. Poor level of teacher training
3. Not so committed teaching faculty (doesn’t apply to all the teachers)
4. For many schools; no proper infrastructure to run the schools
When the student population is too high, teachers can only spend their time to just control them. When I was in the primary school, we had only 4 class rooms and 5 teachers. 1st and 2nd standard students were combined and similarly 3rd and 4th. For each class there were at least 70-80 students and imagine how can a teacher deliver his duty? Though government has spent enough money to build extra class rooms and to hire new faculty the substantial increase in the number of students has kept the quality of education at the same level.
On the other side; there is a scarcity for quality teachers. This is due to the fact teachers training is not up to the mark and also the dedication and commitment of many teachers is questionable when it comes to learning new things to enhance their teaching ability.
The other important aspect is; in most of the government schools, given the cultural and linguistic diversity of India, students are taught in their regional language (some central govt run schools like Navodaya.. teach in English but it is an exception) and this is the differentiating factor while getting high profile jobs.
Contrary to this; private schools have better infrastructure, good teaching faculty and most of the private schools teach in English language and offer CBSE and ICSE syllabus. It has been pointed out that private schools cover the entire curriculum and offer extra-curricular activities. This basically makes the private school students competent enough.
One can argue that we had seen many people in India who have studied in the government schools and attained highest job. But the fact is that the % is too low and maybe it was fine in the past where in there were not many private schools and the quality of education was almost same for all.
I have no idea how we can bridge this gap in future!
The country also needs a bell curve to be maintained...not all can be too good..govt schools make the 1,2 and part of 3...Just joking :)
ReplyDeleteEducation in the right way has never been a focus in Govt...When there is no money with govt, the first guys to be hit is the teacher community...sad. In parallel to providing food, we also have to focus on quality...when private guys are going for practical learning in a big way, govt is still on the age old agenda of books..drastic reforms are needed.
Manjanna..you are seriously in appraisal mode :-)....yea you are true, reforms are very much required but the question is when are we gonna do it?
ReplyDeleteThe question is deeper than it seems to be on the first look and so should the solution be.... Education is just a part of the whole lot of things that are missing..May be we can approach Upendra for some ideas on self governance as a viable solution? ;)
ReplyDeleteThe irony is, there are some so called "successful entrepreneurs" , who having availed subsidized education themselves , now give out press statements saying higher education subsidy is not good. Plain hypocrisy!
ReplyDeleteI believe that govt should get into education and health care sectors and get out of all other sectors. Wishful thinking, I know :-)
@Chaitra, after reading your comment i watched the movie super today (it was in my list since few days )..may be Upendra could give an idea or he makes a moview on this
ReplyDelete@Srinidhi, you are 200% right. if govt can strenghen education and health sector, the other things will be taken care
ReplyDelete