Why are government schools not the first choice?

Relevance: This article explains the challenges faced by government schools and suggest remedies to them.

Synopsis

Improving the infrastructure of government schools will make them more attractive.

Introduction

Recently, The Patna High Court has recently asked for data on how many IAS and IPS officers have enrolled their wards in government schools.

Advantages of government schools:

• Children can get a chance to study with children from different socio-economic backgrounds. But in private schools, that’s not the case.
• The midday meal in a school also contributes to building a healthy school environment.

Challenges with the Government schools:

1. People feel there are not enough teachers in these schools, or the schools may not be functioning regularly.
2. India has different kinds of education systems in different States. Each has different types of challenges.
3. Barely 15% of the schools can be called compliant with the RTE.
   • Section 29 of the RTE explains what kind of education every child has a right to. There is no government school that is complying with that, including elite schools.
4. The secondary and higher secondary level government schools do not have adequate capacities, so the net enrolment falls, especially girls, sharply beyond the primary level.
5. Problems associated with government school teachers:
   • Teachers’ professional development is a very weak area in government schools.
   • Almost half the regular teacher vacancies are filled by guest or ad hoc teachers.
   • Nearly, 95% of teacher education is in private hands and most of it is substandard.

Suggestions to improve government Schools:

1. The government (State and Union) has to improve pedagogy, teacher development, the level of community participation, the parent committees, etc.
2. India should also look at the basic safety, well-being and hygiene factors in government schools. Such as, well functioning toilets, drinking water and proper compound walls.
3. India can create better professional networks for teachers, this will help teachers to continuously learn from each other.
4. Developing a micro plan for every school, and a larger plan for schools at the district level, and then at the State level.
5. Decentralisation: Local bodies can take ownership of government schools, and school development committees can be linked with elected local bodies, so they can support the needs of schools.
6. Create a comprehensive curriculum review like Kerala and synchronise it at a national level to facilitate the incorporation of inter-state migrated children.

Terms to know:

• Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009
• Section 29 of the RTE