Do you think that education sector in India need reforms?

I have been observing and hearing from many about the degradation of standards in the teaching staff who serve in public sector schools and government colleges. There exist exceptions and there may be a good staff and a very very intelligent with excellent track record could have opted for teaching in a government school or college. But, the fact remains that the quality of education in public sector schools and colleges, is drastically fallen and many may agree with me on this issue.

Its really a very very important issue and if we fail to address this, then, our development itself will get hampered in future and the dream of India as a leader in "R&D" may not come true at all.

In India, we have public and private participation in education sector and education is not a business technically though many may say that education has become a very profitable business now a days. Private sector is doing well in education sector as they are results oriented, concentrate on their name, future prospects and there would be better accountability. But, its not the case with the education in public sector.  

We have a great goal in India that the education should not be denied to anybody and trying to make the elementary education as a fundamental right. We have invested so much on education. We have schools with good infrastructure compared to the private schools and colleges. But, the worrying factor about the public sector education is about the quality of teaching staff. Many feel that less salaries is the main reason why the talented are not opting teaching as their profession. If one gets fixed salary with gradual increase in salary in teaching profession, he may achieve many more things in private sector working in an IT company or any company to say.  This issue sought to be addressed as I have read a report in the news paper that there is a proposal to increase the salaries of teaching staff by 75% and its really a good reform and good move. 

But, again, will this salary increase, guarantee the quality education in public schools. I say yes to some extent, but, we also need further reforms ensuring that only the people with quality or sound knowledge enter into the teaching profession. Some may have a doubt that though govt. gives good salary and though one is very very talented, still, he may not discharge his responsibility well. Yes, it can happen and its a deeper issue and one need not worry about this.

Though, we have good government schools with good buildings, labs, play grounds and infrastructure, people are not interested to join their children in govt. schools  and will it be possible to change this general perception is a big issue to dealwith. 

Now, its true that, even the people below poverty line, trying to join children in convents or the private schools from the beginning and nobody can deny this.  We are not against the private sector at all and it has done well in education sector though there exist some criticism. Education has become costly and if the people are rich and can afford to spend money, there is no problem. But, people should not be forced to join their children in private schools thinking that there is no alternative. Government spends so much money on education and it should not go waste and the person who earns 100 rs. per day can not be forced to spend so much of money on their children's education. Public sector has really played a greater role earlier in imparting education and many eminent and scientists now had their basic education in their village schools or government schools. On the contrary, the students who had studied in private schools from the beginning, is also lagging behind in basic standards. 

Its a very important issue and what I feel is:

          1.  There should be salary hike to the teaching staff and it should be substantial.

          2.  There should be a mechanism in selection of teachers in the public sector where only talented is given the teaching job.

          3.  Its not good to fill the vacancies mechanically and nothing happens even if there are vacancies on the ground that there are no qualified people.

          4.  There should not be any compromise with the quality in education and its very very important.

          5.  Targets to be given to the public schools and it is to be ensured that they are competitive.

          6.  Now, a notion exists that it is waste to get educated from public schools and government colleges and it should be reversed.

          7. Everyone knows that its a fact that education in public sector need reforms.

          I would feel that reforms can be brought with a simple will to bring and its a very significant issue. Private sector will never get hurt by this improvements in public sector. Why should the funding and concentration on education in public sector to go waste.

          I would request you all who refer this to share their feelings and come out with suggessions.