Vasudha once asked me to write on a Current Issue. I don't know if this counts as one, but I have read it and think its worth more than an Archive file at CCS Applicant Essays. To the Future CCS Applicant, I hope they're not as uptight and stuck up as they were this time. I can be vindictive.
Introduction
Once upon a time in a land not far away, the government was facing lots of problems, one of them being Education. The government created lots of schools and universities to help deal with the problem. However, they were so overworked that they were unable to provide quality education. They then resolved to encourage other people to set up institutes, by the way of tax subsidies, free land etc. This led to a huge spurt in the education sector. Despite this growth and the government’s affirmative action for the underprivileged, quality education for everyone is still a problem in India.
Issue
There are four primary factor inputs in education--management, teachers, curriculum and infrastructure. These factors have longed favoured the private sector. Teachers in India are mostly middle-class and they prefer a higher salary. Those who don’t, choose their employer based on reputation, which under status quo, government schools lack. The management (i.e. Principal, Managers, and Directors) in Government aided institutions take their position like an ordinary job. They are often transferred from one school to another, as if the operations of both are synonymous. The problem with infrastructure is directly linked with funding. India has never explicitly received any loan/aid from international sources for the purpose of building educational infrastructure. Finally, curriculum is the same in both areas but what differs is its implementation, a by-product of the above three factors.
Possible Solutions
Privatisation is not just big companies with lots of capital. The first step should be a change in the management of educational institutes. The management of private schools are mostly composed of individuals who were related to the founding of the school. More simply put, if I purchased a franchise of the Delhi Public School, then by the virtue of my investment, I would be a part of that franchise’s management body. Similarly, the public school management must now have a stake in the school. This private partnership can be from a company, individual, partnership etc. Again, whoever makes this investment, by the virtue of the return will be involved in the activities of the school. Based on the profit and performance, give a return on investment/interest on capital to the investor.
The next step should be upgradation of infrastructure-technology, furniture, walls etc. If there is a shortage of funds, then one can invite funds from the public via infrastructure bonds, just like we have bonds in the name of farmers, bridges and dams. How will we redeem them? An educated workforce in the long run leads to inflow of income, by the virtue of their employment and intellect. Think of the reduced corruption and the increased tax assesses. Lets have a voluntary disclosure of income, the last one got is 7800 Crores. Let a tender be published for a mass infrastructure improvement in all schools, invite private companies and then offer it to the lowest bidder. And Kalmadi will not handle this.
Teacher training and curriculum are fundamental aspects of education and allowing the private sector to handle them should be avoided. Privatising infrastructure and management alone will improve the quality of education manifold.
Analysis
The potency of the government functioning is the biggest challenge in the implementation. Moreover, a person who has a direct stake in the school functioning might go out of the way to show good results, sometimes fudging records. The same however cannot be eliminated in status quo. Further, a public school still faces competition from its private counterparts. Seeing the above two plans implemented, their response will be of bettering their services (and consequently increasing their fees); making them an elitist group for the rich, much like in the USA. This sort of division is not to be encouraged in the field of education.
Privatisation should be an upward process. The first beneficiaries of the moves must be the youngest children. Just like how schools are formed, one class at a time, similarly, this move must be in phases, from bottom to top. This way when they enter a new class, they’re equipped with skills to deal with good infrastructure. However this means that under status quo, we consider the elder students as a sunk cost.
Conclusion
Is there an alternative? There could be many. Perhaps privatising the whole unit could do more good. Is the investment worth it, in terms of a return? In monetary terms, one can never assess the true benefits of education. Can you measure the life skills one learns? That you no longer have to ask someone else to fill your bank slip? Education is the escape route to a better standard of living. But is that the government’s burden? Should the private players agree to not make profits? One can only wonder. Until then, there is a long way for our happily ever after.
There are some spelling/grammar errors. I didn't bother to check again. Sorry. They are minute.
Song : Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay It's their NEW SONG. I don't like it a smuch, got a Techno feel to it. But EEEE! It's a New Song! :D :D
I hope you like it. The Song :P
Introduction
Once upon a time in a land not far away, the government was facing lots of problems, one of them being Education. The government created lots of schools and universities to help deal with the problem. However, they were so overworked that they were unable to provide quality education. They then resolved to encourage other people to set up institutes, by the way of tax subsidies, free land etc. This led to a huge spurt in the education sector. Despite this growth and the government’s affirmative action for the underprivileged, quality education for everyone is still a problem in India.
Issue
There are four primary factor inputs in education--management, teachers, curriculum and infrastructure. These factors have longed favoured the private sector. Teachers in India are mostly middle-class and they prefer a higher salary. Those who don’t, choose their employer based on reputation, which under status quo, government schools lack. The management (i.e. Principal, Managers, and Directors) in Government aided institutions take their position like an ordinary job. They are often transferred from one school to another, as if the operations of both are synonymous. The problem with infrastructure is directly linked with funding. India has never explicitly received any loan/aid from international sources for the purpose of building educational infrastructure. Finally, curriculum is the same in both areas but what differs is its implementation, a by-product of the above three factors.
Possible Solutions
Privatisation is not just big companies with lots of capital. The first step should be a change in the management of educational institutes. The management of private schools are mostly composed of individuals who were related to the founding of the school. More simply put, if I purchased a franchise of the Delhi Public School, then by the virtue of my investment, I would be a part of that franchise’s management body. Similarly, the public school management must now have a stake in the school. This private partnership can be from a company, individual, partnership etc. Again, whoever makes this investment, by the virtue of the return will be involved in the activities of the school. Based on the profit and performance, give a return on investment/interest on capital to the investor.
The next step should be upgradation of infrastructure-technology, furniture, walls etc. If there is a shortage of funds, then one can invite funds from the public via infrastructure bonds, just like we have bonds in the name of farmers, bridges and dams. How will we redeem them? An educated workforce in the long run leads to inflow of income, by the virtue of their employment and intellect. Think of the reduced corruption and the increased tax assesses. Lets have a voluntary disclosure of income, the last one got is 7800 Crores. Let a tender be published for a mass infrastructure improvement in all schools, invite private companies and then offer it to the lowest bidder. And Kalmadi will not handle this.
Teacher training and curriculum are fundamental aspects of education and allowing the private sector to handle them should be avoided. Privatising infrastructure and management alone will improve the quality of education manifold.
Analysis
The potency of the government functioning is the biggest challenge in the implementation. Moreover, a person who has a direct stake in the school functioning might go out of the way to show good results, sometimes fudging records. The same however cannot be eliminated in status quo. Further, a public school still faces competition from its private counterparts. Seeing the above two plans implemented, their response will be of bettering their services (and consequently increasing their fees); making them an elitist group for the rich, much like in the USA. This sort of division is not to be encouraged in the field of education.
Privatisation should be an upward process. The first beneficiaries of the moves must be the youngest children. Just like how schools are formed, one class at a time, similarly, this move must be in phases, from bottom to top. This way when they enter a new class, they’re equipped with skills to deal with good infrastructure. However this means that under status quo, we consider the elder students as a sunk cost.
Conclusion
Is there an alternative? There could be many. Perhaps privatising the whole unit could do more good. Is the investment worth it, in terms of a return? In monetary terms, one can never assess the true benefits of education. Can you measure the life skills one learns? That you no longer have to ask someone else to fill your bank slip? Education is the escape route to a better standard of living. But is that the government’s burden? Should the private players agree to not make profits? One can only wonder. Until then, there is a long way for our happily ever after.
There are some spelling/grammar errors. I didn't bother to check again. Sorry. They are minute.
Song : Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay It's their NEW SONG. I don't like it a smuch, got a Techno feel to it. But EEEE! It's a New Song! :D :D
I hope you like it. The Song :P
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