Education system in India is in the hands of corporate sector and as Hyderabad is a den of educational institutions, in Telangana there still exists government institutions in large number, but the system is weakened. My conviction is that previous governments have weakened the education system by introducing policies which are supposed to be from corporate sector. Corporate education is encouraged and inspired and even media gives hike to it, due to which people don’t have confidence in government teachers and educational institutions. My conviction is that in a state where government institutions are weakened, democracy also becomes weak and people become puppets, who live on the charity of corporate companies.
The present government (TRS) came to power in the new state after long agitation with the sympathy of the people, who wanted development, especially in education sector. But I feel there is no sincerity of work with this government also. There is little to hope from them. They talk about a new education policy but nothing is new so far. Government is aware of all the realities of this sector but what steps have they taken so far?
Firstly, if we look at school education, government schools have been orphaned, people don’t have trust in it and even the teachers have little hope about it. Consequently, just a few hundred students remain in these schools. I am thrilled by the new slogan ‘Free K.G to P.G’. After seeing the manifesto of TRS government, I visited 16 colleges and universities, and I held discussions with scholars who had done wonderful work on KG to PG-level education on incorporating morals among pre-primary students. All I am saying is based on my survey on the subject and I asked the education minister to release it but he couldn’t do it. This shows how sincere the government is with respect to the development of the education sector.
But instead of reviewing and strengthening the system, they are trying to rationalise the current state of affairs, which have brought schools to the point of closure. As a result of the work of previous governments, people have lost confidence in government institutions.
TRS government came into power with the charity of people and they are responsible for the educational development of these people. Previous governments opened residential schools and the present government just chooses to call it ‘KG to PG’. They just gave a different slogan, and added nothing new to what the previous governments did. This is not what the people wanted when they struggled for a separate state. They promised that education would start at the age of three, that students in small villages will get the same education children in urban areas receive. But now they say the schools started by social welfare are part of their slogan. K.G education starts at 3 years, for which they promised skilled teachers and not ayahs to take care of the children. What about their promises? ‘KG to PG’ is a very attractive slogan but the government has done nothing for it. I too participated in agitation for a separate state to bring about change but I don’t have hope after seeing the functioning of this government for the past 3 years.
Elementary education too is in a pathetic condition and government institutions are on their death bed. When a patient is on death bed, there is a need to take care of it, but the present government is trying to avert from it.
The present government has come to power with the burden of the previous government’s mistakes and failures. But instead of reviewing and strengthening the system, they are trying to rationalise the current state of affairs, which have brought schools to the point of closure. As a result of the work of previous governments, people have lost confidence in government institutions. I want to tell them, “since you had the sympathy of the people, you wanted to dismantle the system with the same sword of power which people have given to you. Instead, you should review the system and create a conditional atmosphere to build up government institutions. The system has deteriorated because of lack of understanding by previous government, and it seems the new government is trying to follow the same path.
Universities are without vice chancellors, and I learnt recently that government wants to appoint police, DIG cadres as VCs of universities. This will be radical. Power will bring reforms and discipline but it doesn’t last long. Students and institutions need nursing and care like mothers. So we expect careful treatment from the government instead of force. If you think this is a false notion, you would need to prove it. It is important to care, not threaten, and students and institutions require different types of nursing. Many countries in the 21st century are successful because of the existence of good and proper education system, but this government does not care for or focus on education.
Education depends on the psychology of the students. Their cognitive skills change and develop as the children move up from primary to secondary, secondary to higher levels and so on. The government cannot bring all boards under a single umbrella. It cannot be merged. Every board has its own responsibilities, syllabus and curriculum, which is different for schools and higher education. Education is not artificial; child is the center of education. Primary education is based on psychology of children, secondary education requires understanding and higher education prepares human resources, it is all a cognitive development process.
Finally, my conviction is that people do not have the courage to ask questions to the government. They have been reduced to the status of beggars. A policy of giving (government) and taking (people) is being implemented, and people have no guts to ask. This is the position of TRS government, where no democracy exists. If the government is really working for the benefit of people, then take measures to strengthen the system and to inspire confidence in people and teachers. For this, they have examples from many countries that they can follow.
Why doesn’t the TRS government, which is reviving the electric board and agriculture sectors, try not to do the same about the education system? You are working on the 2-bedroom project, then why not on Free KG to PG education?
(SIO Telangana has conducted a survey on different aspects of educational status of Telangana. This is the first part of the series ‘Education in Telangana’. Source: Education in TS, Vidhya Watch)
