A voucher system could be introduced wherein every child is given a voucher/coupon of say Rs 300 a month for the monthly fee, which can be redeemed for cash by schools.
Recent OECD study found that better technology in classrooms does not always translate into better learning outcomes. It is time Indian Policy makers gave up their over-reliance on technology when it comes to school education and focus on Teacher Training instead.
Government has treated computers as device that can make teacher dispensable. Millions have been spent on equipping schools with computers and million more have been saved by reducing expenditure on teacher recruitment.
Recently it was found out that a total of 688 government primary schools in Karnataka had no students and 9,503 government schools in the State had 20 or less children studying in them. Many other states in India face similar situation too. Examine the reasons behind this trend and suggest measures to increase enrolment in government
schools. (200 Words)
Education in India has been a primary focus since independence due to the high illiteracy levels and backwardness. Successive governments have taken steps to increase literacy levels. There is a trend currently where the enrollment in government schools is reducing due to various reasons.
- Increased preference to private schools by parents and students due to reasons like lack of quality education, infrastructure, access to schools, low teacher student ratio.
- Non availability of English medium education in government schools and notion of mother tongue medium as inferior among people.
- Raise in income levels and affordability of middle class leading to preference to schools with additional facilities like transport, food, combined child care centres.
- Drop in Enrollment of students in government schools due to reasons like lack of toilets and lack of funds to run schools.
- Substitution of government teachers by contract based ones leading to less preference. Also the choice among youth to teach is reducing leading to shortage of teachers and subsequent low student enrolment.
Measures must be taken to stop this trend.
- Youth volunteers must be engaged to educate parents and enroll students, better infrastructure with classrooms and construction of toilets along with maintenance of water facilities, maintaining proper teacher student ratio with quality teachers and cracking on contract based teaching, promoting awareness among rural areas about education and government measures to provide education like midday meal, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, encouraging sanitation at schools, inculcating responsibility to principals to maintain strength, clearing myths about private school education, increased public spending on education.
India today has around 74% of literacy and continuous sustained measures in these areas are the key for cent percent literacy for a nation aspiring to lead the world.
Recently the Karnataka Legislative Assembly adopted a bill that enforces Kannada as medium of instruction for primary education in the state. Do you think teaching in mother tongue should be encouraged in schools? Is English harming regional languages? Critically examine. (200 Words)
Following could be the benefits of learning in native language:
1. Better Learning: Children, in primary schools are more conversant with native language and hence will find it easier and quick to learn.
2. Cultural identity: Children, by learning in native language will learn better about their cultural roots and will respect them.
3. Local employment: With the native language being a medium of instruction, it will improve local employment and hence living standard.
However, SC in Shubodaya Vidya Samasthe case has identified that right to choose the medium of instruction is implied under Article 19(1) (a), i.e., freedom of expression and it is also implicit under right to education under Article 21. Hence, the imposition of native language as medium of instruction doesn’t seem constitutionally valid.
Also, even if the local language is taught in schools, it should not mean the elimination of English as it is a common global language, and hence is vital. English v. Local language: Knowing English doesn’t necessarily imply that the learner loses respect or unlearns the local language. Besides an English-speaking native person could also help in further promotion of his native language at national and international forums. So, English shouldn’t be seen as a threat and must be taught altogether.
Critically examine the rationale behind forcing government servants to send their kids to government schools. Do you think such policy by the government would meet its objectives? Critically comment. (200 Words)
The recent Allahabad high court decision on compulsorily schooling of government servants kid in government school has both been criticized and appreciated by civil society. Some radical transformation is needed to improve the dismal education situation in india and this can be the first step towards it.
IN FAVOUR OF JUDGEMENT
- When their own kids will go to these schools, the officer will be more aware of the deficiency of schools and will try to improve the level of education as now their own lads career will be in jeopardy
- The attentiveness of teachers will increase as they will now be in constant eye of the officers
- The most important will be in social sector as the kids of most vulnerable section will have new sense of self respect as child of higher end society is also studying with them
- The gap between the two ends of society will reduce leading to more INCLUSIVE GROWTH
- The aspects of PREAMBLE like equality, freedom , liberty will be metamorphosed in true form.
- Forcing wards of government servants to government schools has the intention of improving government schooling by infusing more competition, attack the “elite-opt-out” culture and making administrators realize the effects of their own decision. Also a very wide social spectrum of children will then go to these schools and social sensitization will be easier. So the public schooling system will catch up over time.
AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT
- It violates the article 14 (RIGHT TO FREEDOM) as well as article 21 (life to liberty) and against the basic stricture doctrine of SC
- here is no guarantee that educational system will improve , nowhere in the world this approach is tried so the effect is in suspicion
- The basic infrastructure of education system is still weak, without improving it the quality will remain compromised
- The employability will not improve significantly as the provision is restricted to primary education not higher one.
Discuss the trends in literacy rates in India and examine if the government initiatives both at central and state level have paid any dividends in improving literacy quality and rates. (200 Words)
India is the youngest Nation in World and Literacy is the basic need to for the Human capital. Since Independence number of Schemes related to Education run by the state and Central govt and Due to that , we reach the 69% of Literacy rate.
Trend in literacy:
- Gender Equality : – Nearly Same Literacy rate of Male and female. India Fulfil the UNSECO Goal of Gender equality in literacy.
- Adult Literacy : – India fail to achieve the target of the 50% and can did only 26% of the adult literacy.
- Education Expenditure :- Not increase , still less than the 2% of the GDP.
- Gradually decreasing the rural urban gap of literacy.
- Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2014 says only an average of 48.1 % of class v children across india can read a class II level text
Schemes related to the literacy:-
- National literacy mission programme :- Educate 8 crore adults in 15-35 age to not only read but also understand why they are being deprived and help them move towards change
- TARA akshar :- To Make the women literate . 100 Minutes per day for 30 days and Make the Women enable to read and write in hindi. ( NGO )
- Central Govt. flagship :- Beti bachao , Beti padhao with dual objective of Gender Equality in Literacy and Increase sex ratio.
- Kasturba GandhiVidhyalaya :-Integrated in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan program, to provide educational facilities for girls belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minority communities and families below the poverty line in Educationally Backward Blocks
- Other are – SSA , RTE, Mid day meal