Providing Universal Education….

The original Right to Education (RTE) Act framed by the honourable Government of India stated that no school can deny admission to a child on the basis of screening tests. However, several good schools around the country, especially the private ones, raised objections to this as they felt that this would result in a fall in their standards. Fair enough. As a result, the government decided to tweak the RTE Act a fraction and now, has directed the private schools to reserve (that is not to conduct screening tests) for 25% of its students, while the remaining 75% students would be screened as per the existing procedure.

However, the more fundamental question is whether illiteracy can be eradicated by simply enacting legislations or providing quotas. If an Act like RTE has to be really successful, especially at the core of Indian rural setup, then the number and quality of government schools have to be improved. As envisaged, this would require some additional investment and planning from the government.

Poor kids from villages cannot afford high quality education that private schools would provide. A subsidised fee structure, mid-day meals(which has already been introduced) and a good visionary curriculum along with good teachers who are paid well can do wonders to the dynamics of educational system of India. Rural people would feel confident of sending their kids to school and not encourage them to drop out for economic reasons, as they would then know that the child is really securing his and the family's future. This is all the more reason why such state-run schools should be the face for mass education in our country. It would always be a mammoth effort for private schools who predominantly thrive in an urban setup to reach the heart of rural India.

If the quality of government schools improves, there would be a healthy competition between private and public schools, which right now is a pretty lop-sided contest. In that scenario, the quality of education imparted to kids would be of the highest order, and India can boast of having a vibrant and diversified school sector. Private schools, in the interim, should be allowed a free hand in administering student quality in whichever way they seem convenient, and should not be imposed with quotas. After all, it is the child of today who would do our nation proud tomorrow.