SSA, RTI – A Reality check.
Lant Pritchett, in his interaction with the editors of the Indian Express (8/11/11) has given a reality check to our politicians and bureaucrats. Just as iron bars do not make a prison, school buildings and even teachers do not show educational progress. As he has pointed out, "What India does not have is any semi-skilled labour, or high school-educated labour, people with basic literacy but advanced skills." What India today requires is a large number of vocational courses to be provided to the high school students so that they can find work easily or be self-employed. We also require teachers' training schools which just trains but motivates them to do justice to the students. The teachers should be properly remunerated. We read in newspapers that the government fails to release educational grants to schools and colleges in time. It is not lack of resources but lack of imagination and commitment by the government that retards our education of the masses. He has rightly said that India has emphasized elite education at the expense of mass education and that politicians use SSA for patronage. GDP growth and maga projects have no value as long as the government cannot provide proper education and health to our people. Will the reality check of an expert wake up the politicians and administrators to do the right thing by the people?
http://epaper.indianexpress.com/16162/Indian-Express-Mumbai/08-November-2011#p=page:n=9:z=1
November 8,2011.********
