A few days ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a childhood
friend who is currently serving as a constable in the state police. After
exchanging pleasantries, I inquired about his children and their education. He
informed me that he has four children and that all of them are enrolled in
private schools. He further explained that this particular time of the year
presents significant challenges as his salary is insufficient to cover the
expenses of his children’s admission fees, books, and uniforms.
I couldn’t agree more with his struggle. The financial
burden of providing quality education is a reality many parents face. However,
I reminded him that investing in his children’s education is one of the most
valuable commitments he can make. While the costs may seem daunting now, the
long-term benefits far outweigh the sacrifices. Education shapes a child’s
future, opens doors to opportunities, and builds a foundation for success. I
assured him that his dedication to his children’s well-being and education
would one day bear fruit. After all, providing children with the right tools to
succeed in life is a responsibility that no parent should take lightly.
There are many families like my friend here, who despite
numerous challenges, struggles to send their children to private schools for
want of quality education. On average, admission, books and uniform for a
single child could come to around `15,000/-, excluding tuition fees. These cost
increases each year. So, for a family without a secured income stream, the future
of their children becomes uncertain.
While reviewing the cumulative records of students, I have
observed instances where students enrolled in reputable private schools during
their formative years were later withdrawn and enrolled in government schools.
In my opinion, this primarily stems from the escalating costs associated with
private education. When family’s size increases, spending also increases.
Ultimately, parents are often compelled to make difficult decisions regarding
their children’s education.
Despite the substantial financial burden associated with
private education, numerous parents opt for private schools for their children
due to the persistent shortcomings of government-run educational institutions.
Academic underperformance, inadequate infrastructure, and ineffective
management have undermined public trust in the government education system.
Consequently, driven by their concerns for their children’s future, parents
prioritise private schools that provide better learning environments, disciplined
teaching, and enhanced academic outcomes.
According to the Unified District Information System for
Education, 2023-24, there are 2,725 schools in Nagaland. Out of these, 1,952
(71.6%) are government schools, while 772 (28.3%) are private schools. The
government school system employs a total of 18,627 educators, while the private
school system employs 13,966 educators. However, when considering enrollment
data, it is evident that only 1,41,852 students (34.4%) are enrolled in
government schools, whereas 2,71,019 students (65.6%) are enrolled in private
schools. This disparity in enrollment results in a pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) of
7.6 in government schools, 19.4 in private schools and 13 for the whole state.
Considering that the PTR for all India is 25, it is often
argued that Nagaland state, particularly the government schools, has low PTR,
hence, the educational outcomes should be better. The rationalisation exercises
are also implemented by the state government to address these challenges. However,
efforts to deploy and redeploy teachers in accordance with the policy reforms
are frequently hindered by protests from various pressure organisations.
Eventually, the department is unable to effectively implement its policies.
It is evident that there is excessive interference in the
management of government schools at every level in the state. From the
construction of school toilets to school buildings, the school administration
and the department must navigate and negotiate with the landowners, who would
obstruct any development without having their share of the pie. Then comes the
village councils, the student bodies and the influential lots. Obviously, too
many people want to steer the ship and, in the end, when the ship cannot move
forward in any direction, the blame is put on the teachers. The typical lazy,
irresponsible government teachers, they would say.
One of the advantages of the private schools is its autonomy
in management. The school authority can hire and fire any employee, depending
on the performances or vision of the institution. Likewise, if the school needs
a class room, a computer set, a white board or a microphone, the school gets
it. But when it comes to government schools, it will have to go through the
bureaucratic process which takes time. In addition, whenever the department
comes with some sort of policy reforms, it is often challenged without
appreciating the cause and intent of the policy. It is acknowledged that public
policies should be open to questioning, examination, and thoughtful discussion
to ensure they serve the greater good. However, opposing necessary reforms
based on personal or vested interests hinders progress and prevents society
from benefiting from positive change.
Recently, the State Level Education Committee has taken
major decisions to shut down or downgrade government schools with zero or very
less enrolments. The department has also come up with a policy to merge schools
having less enrollments after giving them two-year grace period. If these
policies are to be followed to the letter, more schools are likely to be shut
down in the coming years. Obviously, teachers serving in such school will have
to be redeployed elsewhere, unless of course, some sort of voluntary retirement
schemes are offered to those who are not willing to get transferred.
If we are to evaluate public education purely from an
economic perspective, schools with low enrollment may face closure due to cost
inefficiency. While this might seem like a practical financial decision, it
would have serious consequences, particularly for children in remote areas.
Many of these students already face challenges in accessing quality education,
and shutting down schools would further limit their opportunities, forcing them
to travel long distances or, in some cases, discontinue their education
altogether. Therefore, while economic factors are important, decisions about
public education must also consider the social impact and the fundamental right
of every child to receive education, regardless of their geographical location.
Between 2006-07 and 2023-24, the number of government
primary schools in Nagaland decreased from 1442 to 1026. This trend is expected
to continue as schools with zero or very low enrollments are closed. As per the
UDISE+ 2023-24 report, Nagaland currently has a total of 12 schools with zero
enrollment and 31 schools with only one teacher. In such scenario, we cannot
expect the government to sit idle and do nothing. Rather, it is felt that the
government schools need urgent upscalling in all areas to improve performance
and educational outcomes. To that end, public support and cooperation is also
crucial.
Education is a great equaliser of income, health and
standard of living; but when quality schooling becomes a privilege rather than
a right, the gap between the wealthy and the underprivileged widens. It would
be unacceptable for any society to segregate children based on their
socioeconomic status, with the wealthy attending one type of school and the
impoverished attending another. Such situation would certainly create deep
divisions that affect social cohesion, economic mobility, and equal
opportunities. Therefore, we must strive for an education system where quality
schooling is accessible to all, regardless of geographical region or income
status.
