There is something about the word “Sarkaari” in our nation. Whether it be primary education, high school, college or job- the “saarkari” prefix is everywhere, but maybe implies different connotations in different situations. Even maybe different connotations for different people as well. In some cases, the word adds glamour to the entity in question while in cases, it makes it so derogatory that people shun it away.
The government of India has been, from time immemorial, has been pressing upon the need for compulsory primary education for inclusive and long term growth of the nation. Undoubtedly, this has been on the agenda of every passing government. Making primary education compulsory-way back in I-don’t-know-when- brought up the question of how it should be accomplished. Thus started the sarkaari primary education schools. These addressed the issue of imparting primary education even in remote villages by setting up schools for anyone who wishes to enroll and that too free of cost. But to what effect? Even after so many years, these schools have been maintaining the rather notorious reputation of non-availability of teachers, insufficient classrooms, bad to very bad overall infrastructure and a strict no-no for any parent who can afford any other non-sarkaari school- even it be little better. Even the free education couldn’t attract well-to-do people to send their children to these schools. Thus, at this point of time, the special prefix doesn’t not only work but also presents a grim picture of the whole affair.
The story doesn’t end here. Even sarkaari high schools fails to attract children from families who have the resources to send their wards to private ICSE schools who charge exorbitant fees when compared to the nominal fee of the sarkaari high schools. But the picture improves here a little bit. Some sarkaari high schools have been in vogue and they have been doing well. The scenario gradually moves to the bright light. But any progress is negated by the unavailability to a very great extent of high schools in rural, even in semi-urban areas. Whatever high schools are available in rural areas beat the quality even of primary education resulting, generally, in the closure or a colossal inefficient school governance. It seems that primary education receives much more thrust from the sarkaar as compared to high school. If statistics appearing in magazines and newspaper are to be believed then one gets surprised on finding that more than 60% of the students who go to schools for their primary education drop out and never attend high school. The fact that this percentage includes all the rural, semi-urban and urban population makes it all the more alarming as one can simply do the math by approximation and find out the rather very high and disturbing percentage of drop-outs in rural areas.
Now when we come to the college education, let’s talk about the professional colleges. Not an ounce of doubt here. Sarkaari professional colleges are regarded with utmost respect. They are the best colleges in the nation. This fact cannot be more exemplified when we consider the world’s most tough competition to get into colleges offering courses in technology and medicine.
Now, the thing I wonder here is what happens. When we have our minds conditioned against the sarkaar when it comes to education-primary and high school- why is it that we suddenly crave for the sarkaari tag for our professional education. I can’t believe that the private players are incapable to penetrate into this sector and compete and even win against the sarkaar as they have been doing so comfortably in primary and high school education. If we seek the answer, then we get to a very uncomfortable truth. Government has been and probably will be, giving more importance to this sector of education rather than primary education- it doesn’t matter what they write in their election manifestos or argue over in the Parliament and Assembly. The difficult part to understand is why it has been doing this. Even if we see from the election point of view, it will be more rewarding to spend crores of country money on primary education and high schools rather than on world class professional courses. The reach of primary education and high schools will always be more than professional colleges. More people are affected by this and thus a sudden philanthropic spending on this part will lead to eventual rise in the number of people in favour of the ruling party and thus increase the chances of winning the next election. When considered from the utility factor and overall betterment of the nation, more spending and correct spending on primary education is also desirable. This will help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor when it comes to education till class-12. Then such matters as reservations for backward classes due their non-access to quality education will be done away with. As will be the case in the infamous quota system.
