Re: [IAC#RG] Fwd: A POLICY TO IMPROVE THE STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT OWNED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ?

I have really never understood this whole point of appealing to the government?

Popular quote attributed to Einstein "Continuing to do the same thing, while expecting different results, is the definition of insanity"

I would like to make two broad points here:

First, the government is NEVER going to solve the problem of the poor education imparted in govt or public schools - they (the bureaucrats, the politicians, the administrators and the teachers) have no incentive to deliver a better product. The whole system of rewards vs punishment does not work in public schools, partially due to incompetence, partially due to apathy and callousness of the administrators and partially due to the vested interests represented by the unions.

If you are going to pay a teacher Rs3,000 - 5,000 per month in rural and semi-rural ares, where is his incentive to actually do a passable job, leave alone a great job. You are entrusting the future of your child with this person, and you would pay him less than what a government sweeper earns? Where is his/her incentive? Further, he probably had to pay a bribe to secure the post in the first place - obviously, he will look to secure his return first, probably by working somewhere else part time/contract basis while he collects his govt pittance.

So, what is the solution - the solution is fairly simple to execute, run, and ensure that education quality improves by leaps and bounds, across the country. BUT, the solution is anathema to all the socialists and collectivists. I can already imagine the howls of anguish and protest that are going to erupt.

The biggest cost in education is infrastructure - and, that is the biggest entry barrier for competent educators to look at providing quality education in rural and semi-rural areas - on the other hand, the govt has previously built a chain of schools across the country - this is a sunk cost for the govt, which is yielding a poor RoI, if not a negative RoI to the citizens of this country, who actually paid for this infrastructure through their taxes.

So, why not monetise this infrastructure? Return the capital/investment spent on the schools back to the taxpayers while the central budget, and at the same time make the infrastructure more productive.

That's right: PRIVATISE all government schools - either sell or lease out the schools to private educators, district wise or conglomeration of district wise. Transfer all the teachers and the administrators to the private educators' pay roll. Syllabi for each grade could be set at a state level, since these students will all appear for the board exam - but that is the sole role that the education regulator should play - if you want to be more daring, then do away with set syllabi too - just set three board level exams at 4th grade, 8th grade and 12th grade. Give the private educators' freedom to decide syllabi, methodology and processes to prepare their students for these exams - but, this might be a bridge too far for most learned-by-rote Indians to swallow.

And, payments - the govt currently spends a certain amount per school each year. Divide this number by the families with school going children in this area, and provide the money DIRECTLY to the parents as a fungible education voucher, payable for fees at any school within the state.

Thus there will be an incentive for the private educators to ensure that they keep attracting students by the quality of their school and education.

And, the govt can set up a bonus pool derived from the interest income from either the sale amount or lease amount it received from the privatisation of the schools - which can be used to reward those educators with strong performances at the board exam levels.

So, what do we have here? The right incentives for everyone in the system, accountability and a clear reward system for success. What's not to like???

BTW, for those who are going to stand up in opposition to this proposal, pls consider this fact: parents in rural areas are already sending their children to private, local "english medium" schools and paying cold cash for it, while spurning the govt schools, which are free.

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Second point:

Why are we appealing to the govt? The govt is our agent, which WE created to do our bidding. Not our master. We should be demanding. The individual comes first, and then comes the state.

If you think the govt is failing in the mandate that the citizens have given it, then demand performance or ask for the relevant people to be fired if they can not deliver.

Why should we, the taxpayers, be paying for the incompetent IAS? Sack bureaucrats who do not perform - pure and simple. Scrap tenure for IAS.

And, why will the legislators not listen to the citizens? The recent elections should be a salutary lesson for them, is it not?

Thanks

Supratim

On 3 June 2014 19:52, Venkatraman Ns <nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

To

 

India Against Corrpution

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  A  POLICY  TO IMPROVE THE STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT OWNED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ?

 

As the new academic year is now commencing , the parents and students belonging to poor families  are running around with frustration and sense of hopelessness , due to lack of quality educational opportunities. Those who interact with the poor families would know this.

Certainly, the poor students are entitled to aspire for quality education  that would provide them opportunities for growth, just as the students belonging to the affluent families.

Unfortunately, with private  educational institutions now largely going into the hands of business men and politicians,  the tuition and other fees charged in the private schools and colleges have become exhorbitant and beyond the reach of the students from lower income group.  It is sad that quality education now are available only for those who can afford to pay high fees.

Inevitably, the deprived students look upto the government for support to provide them opportunities for education  that would be of competitive standards. Unfortunately, the quality standards of education imparted in several government schools and colleges are  poor and inadequate. 

In such circumstances, the students belonging to lower income group and their parents desire to admit their children in private institutions, but they do not have the resources  to pay the demanded fees . They run from pillar to post to mobilise funds by borrowing or "begging". They go from one NGO  to another and these NGOs themselves do not command the resources required considering the need of the poor students.

In such circumstances, the politicians and the bureaucrats running the government have to be blamed for not maintaining the requisite  standards in the government owned educational institutions. Further, the government is not opening more schools and colleges in tune with the demand and perhaps, expect the money sucking private sector to fill the gap.

The poor quality of education in government schools and colleges have no justification.  The salaries and perks paid to the teachers in government schools and colleges are largely on par with that of private institutions and in some cases they are even better.  Most of the government institutions also have adequate facilities like laboratories etc. as  the government provide the funds.

The problem arises due to the poor quality of administration and indiscipline in these government institutions . One often see   local politicians entering the  premises and interfering in administration.   IAS officers who work in the Education department rarely visit the schools  and colleges  for inspection and when they do occasionally , they expect to be received  with red carpet welcome.

A suggestion was made in a recent meeting that the best way to improve the standards of the government owned educational institutions is to make it compulsory that the sons and daughters of IAS officers   and that of the ministers should study only in government owned or government aided institutions.  They use government bunglows / apartments and government vehicles.  Why not they use government schools and colleges also  ?   This policy  of government to ask the ministers and bureaucrats to admit their children in government institutions would certainly motivate them  to pay greater attention to improve the performance  and standards of government run educational institutions.

 

N.S.Venkataraman

Email:-  nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com

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