Should schools be run asa business?- A look outside India
My granddaughter is an 8th grader in US and I have seen their school system at work from close quarters. By default, education is free in school level. Most children including the children of high-income families (family income at the top 5-10% range) are educated in public (government run) schools. Private schools are very expensive and are preferred by the really rich parents (Top 5% family income).
The quality of public schools can however vary a lot. In inner city areas catering to the low-income group, the school environment and quality of education may not be good (very much on par with our pathetic government schools). But schools located in affluent suburbs are excellent (they are rated as 9 or 10 in a scale of 1-10) which means that most of the children from these schools end up in Ivy-league (top ranking) universities. Some of these schools even cater specifically to gifted children (say the equivalent of top IIT rankers). This is the because of the fact that school grants are directly related to the taxes paid by people of a given neighborhood. Schools in affluent neighborhoods are funded better due to high tax amounts paid by the residents. Funding is low for inner city schools or those in poorer sections of a city and these are the lowest rated schools.
In US (as in most Western countries) education up to school secondary level is free and is accepted as the responsibility of the government. It is considered as an investment and not as a money-making operation by politically-connected/favoured individuals who run schools like mafia rackets. In India, taxes collected are frittered away in freebies to the undeserving, with the government acting as a sort of Robin Hood. Tax base is lopsided with a few taxpayers having to bear the burden of a huge part of the non-tax paying population who are either too poor or exempted (like big landowners) or are very good at tax evasion.
The West must be doing something right, seeing the amount of scientific research output, Nobel awardees and so on whereas Indians are looking always to getting technology hand-downs from those countries without contributing anything by way of new scientific breakthroughs or inventions, which is the direct result of our low quality of education both government and private. Even China is a lot better than us. more
The quality of public schools can however vary a lot. In inner city areas catering to the low-income group, the school environment and quality of education may not be good (very much on par with our pathetic government schools). But schools located in affluent suburbs are excellent (they are rated as 9 or 10 in a scale of 1-10) which means that most of the children from these schools end up in Ivy-league (top ranking) universities. Some of these schools even cater specifically to gifted children (say the equivalent of top IIT rankers). This is the because of the fact that school grants are directly related to the taxes paid by people of a given neighborhood. Schools in affluent neighborhoods are funded better due to high tax amounts paid by the residents. Funding is low for inner city schools or those in poorer sections of a city and these are the lowest rated schools.
In US (as in most Western countries) education up to school secondary level is free and is accepted as the responsibility of the government. It is considered as an investment and not as a money-making operation by politically-connected/favoured individuals who run schools like mafia rackets. In India, taxes collected are frittered away in freebies to the undeserving, with the government acting as a sort of Robin Hood. Tax base is lopsided with a few taxpayers having to bear the burden of a huge part of the non-tax paying population who are either too poor or exempted (like big landowners) or are very good at tax evasion.
The West must be doing something right, seeing the amount of scientific research output, Nobel awardees and so on whereas Indians are looking always to getting technology hand-downs from those countries without contributing anything by way of new scientific breakthroughs or inventions, which is the direct result of our low quality of education both government and private. Even China is a lot better than us. more
Viewed by 2458
View all 8 comments Below 8 comments
education is fundamental rights peoples , it has to bring to non profitable organization and fix the fees and other charges as minimum can be effort all poor peoples more
Apr 28
Probably; my poor English failed me to understand this comment/view/opinion. more
Apr 28
@ Mr Sudarshan Venkataramanan: It is not correct to say that teachers are not well paid, particularly in the government sector. Perhaps true in the private schools which exploit teachers to the maximum but manage to get good results. I saw a viral video (authenticity doubtful) which shows a government school (in Bihar, where else?) where the Headmistress is absent, but her husband is present in her place and a Sanskrit teacher's brother is standing in for the teacher and neither can do the actual job. This only means that the well-paid government teachers are not committed to their profession. With most vacancies being filled by caste-based reservations, there is only a sense of entitlement and not commitment. more
Apr 28
India education system & practice became commercial since late 90's and now it's in peak. Private institution got an opportunity to spike the fees as Govt. institutions raised the academic expenses quite high as budgetary support has been reduced since last couple of years. Higher education became very expensive now a days in Govt. institutions also. So who will bell the cat now? People have to realise it well. So far Govt. is not very serious to discipline such practice, nothing will happen. No doubt, developed countries Govt. spent a lot in education but all are not given opportunity to go for higher education. There is a mushrooming of academic institutions in USA where developing & under developing countries students are studying now a days. China's academic system is totally different and formal education system came off late but now it's quite well built, perhaps better than India. more
Apr 27
Imparting education up to the secondary level for free, the west is doing something right, definitely! In India introducing the Right to Education, by the previous government, a brilliant concept, free mid-day meal inclusive, for the poor, doing the same also. Lockdown, however frittered away that equalising concept, in letter and spirit, with consequent school shutdowns! Wilfully done political motivation by current government? Rich getting educated online, lobbied the government? more
Apr 27
Schools should certainly be FREE. But let us not merely compare with schools in foreign countries. These governments provide full expenditure to their schools. In India, this has started only recently. Since independence no one bothered and neither did the public. ow that Government is dong something, people are waking up. Even those who can afford to pay high fees keep complaining. Indians want EVERYTHING FREE. People like Kejriwal take advantage of this attitude of the public for personal benefits. more
Apr 27
