Experts must stop supporting public schools that even the poor don’t want for their children
The problem with public schools, one is often told, is the lack of sufficient administrative supervision required to bring accountability to the system. Funds to aid learning are often misappropriated, children’s learning outcome is abysmally poor, and teachers that sleep and make merry in their classes are far too common in Indian public schools. It is not as if researchers on education do not recognize these problems, but the solutions they offer are often simply wrongheaded.
With the release of the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2014 last week, the chorus to improve teaching standards and accountability in public schools has once again begun. Even as near universal primary school enrolment has been achieved, learning levels continue to stagnate at low levels or fall. Given this, one would expect the government to crack the whip; but teacher attendance in government schools has actually dropped. Amidst all this, private school enrolment continues to rise year after year.
Please click here to read more.