NSSO report shows that private schools are preferred over government schools due to better quality education
New Delhi: While presenting the budget for Delhi last month, finance minister Manish Sisodia announced an expenditure of Rs.102 crore on training of teachers and principals in the new fiscal year. This was just Rs.9.4 crore last year. Sisodia said his aim was to bring government schools to world class standards in Delhi. While one would have to wait and see whether these goals are realized, improving learning outcomes and perception of government schools seems to be a national problem.
A recent National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report shows that a majority of students studying in private schools do so to make sure that they get better quality education. The survey was conducted between January and June 2014.
The problem of quality in government educational institutions seems to be more acute at the school level. Consider this: more than 92% of students in rural India opt for a private school at the primary level because of one of three reasons. One, better learning environment in private schools; two, English being the medium of instruction in private schools; three, quality of education being unsatisfactory in government schools. The figure is above 70% in both rural and urban areas up to higher secondary level, with the exception of higher secondary level in rural areas, where it is 64%. For graduate and above and diploma level, the tables turn. Majority turns to private educational providers because of lack of supply—the reasons being absence of a government institution in the vicinity, or inability to get admission into one.
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