Time to debate role of public, pvt schools

Public schools are being simplistically compared with private schools, based on a undifferentiated reading of budgets and learning outcomes. The agencies and the departments concerned with educational standards at primary and secondary level are taking a passive view. Going against the objectives of the RTE Act, some State governments have even announced plans to close down some public schools instead of intensifying efforts for increased enrollment

A Class X student Santosh Reddy of a private school in Karimnagar in Telengana state recently committed suicide by jumping in front of a train, following humiliation by his school for failing to pay school fees. He was made to stand outside the classroom. He recorded all this on a mobile phone before taking his life. He stated that he was taking the extreme step as his farmer family could afford and did not have the money to pay the tuition fees.

Three days later, another student Sivaramakrishna took his life for the same reason in another village in Mahbubnagar district. That two key reasons for farmers getting indebted are hospital costs and educational expenditure of children is known but this is perhaps the first time in the country that a child committed suicide over his family not being able to pay school fees. This incident is likely to echo across in education and academic circles.

These incidents should not be brushed aside as inconsequential ones. They call for serious review of the present scenario of education system itself. I wonder why when primary and upper primary education was made free some years ago, first for girls and then for all, private schools are allowed to continue to charge fees in addition to capitation fees informally? Some State governments even made the entire high school education free.

On the other, most private schools have been increasing tuition fees frequently as if there is no one to question and no checks are there on admissions conditions, infrastructure required and standards for outcomes. On the contrary, instances are galore of governments pampering private education, threatening the very future of public schools. This is despite the RTE Act of 2009, which provides for free and compulsory education to all children up to 14 years.

The suicides should remind us what has been going on in the country without a public debate on education policies. Public schools, nurtured over the decades by the State and the Central governments, have been the flagship of the country's development endeavours. Not only there is no fee in public schools, children are also provided free midday meal, books, and even uniform.

Most of the public schools have basic infrastructure, trained teachers and there is system of supervision and periodic reviews. And they operate in an open entry for one and all and exist in difficult terrains too. That in some public schools some teachers are not regularly attending or quality of education is not up to mark should not mean they need to be replaced by private schools, operating more on business lines and with no concern for equity and socio-economic development aspects of the country.

The suicides of Santosh Reddy and Sivaramakrishna should not go unheeded. To expand their empires, private school managements tend to defame public schools with all kinds of arguments and accusations. They are spreading the argument that the accomplishments of public schools are not comparable to those of private schools.

The agencies and the departments concerned with educational standards at primary and secondary level are taking a passive view. Going against the objectives of the RTE Act, some State governments have even announced plans to close down some public schools instead of intensifying efforts for increased enrollment. In the process, the country is heading for "a free for all" education scenario.

As three prominent researchers in education, Kiran Bhatty, Anuradha De and Rathin Roy, have noted in a recent EPW (Economic and Political Weekly) article, public schools are being "simplistically compared" with private schools, "based on a undifferentiated reading of budgets and learning outcomes." It is high time that a national debate is held on the role and relevance of public and private schools in the country.

By N Bhaskara Rao