Several posts in this blog have discussed the poor performance of India's education system. Readers have offered their comments and suggestions. In a hard-hitting and searching piece, the New York Times corroborates many of these posts and comments. Let's hope that the publicity given to this important issue will result in improvements in education, something that India's poor sorely need and deserve.
Wed, 02/06/2008 - 12:44 India's poor are being well educated by corrupt politicians and local henchmen in the politics of religion, caste and hopelessness. Law abiding citizens seem to think that they would escape the failures of the education ministry and the plight of poor people around them by coughing up money to greedy private schools. Bad education system for the masses eventually bites everyone. It is not that the poor don't want to be educated, they are busy fighting off the vultures scavenging on the meagre incomes and freedoms. Chariy is synonomous with religious conversions and social/community work adds lends credibility in page3 party circles. Can we start with politicians please..
Tue, 02/05/2008 - 05:28 Reading the NYT article, I see two basic problems: corruption and choosing short-term employment over long-term education. Corruption in the schools: by the teachers, administrators, and government officials. Choice which truly cannot be faulted: better to get 3 rupees today than to hope that a job (with a reasonable bribe attached to it) can be gotten in 10 years.
Fri, 02/01/2008 - 00:17 Why can we not adopt a Teach for India Model - Akin Singapore which makes it mandatory for every citizen to go for a military training, we too should seriously made it a mandate for every literate graduate to spend atleast 1-2 weeks every 2 years to teach in rural and urban schools. Am sure these graduates acting as faculty would be a catalyst for change sharing life and management skills. Such people could be then given some brownie points (a certificate of appreciation from HRD after completion of 3 such interventions ?)..... We cannot be dependent on the Govt for everything and as a responsible citizen have to give back to this civil society. It should be part of our DNA.
Sat, 02/16/2008 - 06:07 i think mr. lokesh mehra's idea is a good one.also,i wonder if it would be possible to encourage private schools to 'adopt'some poor school or schools and help them to improve their standards.parents and the older students of the private schools could be invited to volunteer to teach in the adopted schools.apart from teaching,they can also donate the necessary items needed for the school.this can also help in instilling a sense of service and gratitude to children from a young age - many of the well to do children today dont appreciate the comforts they have.also,there are many educated parents who are not working due to various reasons and this kind of volunteer service might be a fulfilling experience for many of them.
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 01:47 It is unprecedented that Indian education is stagnating. What more is visible in Indian education is to make business in education. No statistics is required as it is quite visible to naked eye that government run and funded elementary education is crumbling and the private managed one is witnessing spiraling growth in terms annual business turn over in education. The most surprising aspect is that the government run elementary educational system has best of teachers but significant bear march in terms of quality/quantity input output ratio. What is lacking is lack of inbuilt system of monitoring and accountability. Who cares about tax payers’ money?
Tue, 03/18/2008 - 05:53 What Dr Satpathy highlighted is an open secret. That is the fact why public, Govt run/funded schools are lagging behind, as there is no regular monitoring and accountability.