- Undeniably, quality education is one of the most basic requirements of any progressive society. Especially, an aspirational country like India, making every attempt to be counted as a fast-developing nation into a developed one, must ensure the education infrastructure is not only at par with some of the most advanced countries in the world, but also positioned comfortably to produce students well-rounded in their chosen subjects. Despite progressing tremendously over the years on the back of some well-intentioned measures aimed at giving further fillip to education, India is found wanting in living up to the expectations on this front. Little wonder, the public schools are no match for the burgeoning private schools across the country.
PC: The Statesman
- The government-funded public schools also lack basic amenities, miserably failing to serve the poor people who cannot afford the quality education offered by the ever-mushrooming private schools. One of the most important aspects of any parent is to provide quality education to their wards. Unfortunately, the Indian education scenario disappoints its citizens since the public schools hardly match up to the standards espoused by the private schools in comparison. So much so that the fees charged by private schools are not only exorbitant but out of reach of ordinary citizens by a mile. Mind you, excessive private school fees are thanks to poor regulation in a market defined by high demand, low quality. That’s the bane of the education system in India.
PC: Times of India
- As reported recently, Delhi parents have hit the streets to protest excessive school fees. Private schools charging exorbitant sums under numerous heads are now a routine nightmare for families. Some media reports mention that school fees have gone up 50-80% over three years. Even at half that rate of increase, it’s shockingly high. Almost half of all schools in Delhi are private. Nationwide, that number’s almost one-third. Crumbling government education infrastructure will obviously push more and more parents to register their children in private schools. Moreover, the pull of English-medium education is stronger than ever, understandably so. Enrolment in private schools has grown exponentially from about 20% in 2010 to 46% in 2023. That’s some revelation indeed.
PC: India Today
- Most worryingly, while demand is huge, just a handful of schools deliver quality education, and these cater to wealth and social networks. Also, expensive doesn’t always guarantee excellence, despite private schools charging a bomb as fees. Such schools have poor learning delivery, prioritize profit, and are known more for high costs and a lack of accountability. Given low-grade teaching, the relationship between students, their parents, and such private schools becomes bruisingly transactional. Aspiring middle-class are stuck paying extortionate fees for subpar learning. Neighbourhood schools compete not on scholarship or pedagogy, but on facilities available. Why can’t we have strong regulations on these matters concerning private schools?
