: While closure of uneconomic schools looms large over the education sector, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac’s announcement in his revised budget of Rs.1,000-crore allocation for elevating to international standards one school in each Assembly constituency has drawn varied reaction.
R.V.G. Menon, educationist, said it was only a beginning, nevertheless a good proposal as upkeep of schools was far from satisfactory. “In government schools, the compounds are often run-down, the paint is peeling off. There is no maintenance. The environment at the institutions also matters. Look at the campuses of institutions such as IITs or even that of unaided schools. It helps draw parents.”
While limiting the number of schools was a problem, the proposal would inspire people to work for the development of other schools, said N. Sreekumar, general secretary, All Kerala School Teachers Union, said. “The alumni and local people are ready to help schools. This opens up avenues for improving physical infrastructure.”
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However, M. Shajar Khan, State secretary, All India Save Education Committee, saw the proposal as discriminatory. “An amount of Rs.1,000 crore is being used to protect some schools. But what about the others. Shouldn’t efforts be made to raise standards of all schools?” If the government had funds to set aside for this proposal, it could be used to prevent the closure of uneconomic schools, he said. Better physical infrastructure alone would not help; standards should be raised by improving curriculum, he said.
He also called for clarity on the yardstick for selection of such schools. “The government is stepping back from its responsibility. There are a number of schools in rural areas where people from poor financial backgrounds study. Should these be discriminated against?”
Mr. Sreekumar said the government was already spending money on school infrastructure, teachers’ salaries, and students’ textbooks. “There is nothing wrong in turning to those who are ready to spend money on institutions which made them what they are.”
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T.S. Salim, senior vice president, Kerala Pradesh School Teachers Union, said the moot question was where the government would find the revenue for the proposal. “Also, it is focusing only on 1,000 schools. Developing only a few schools, and ignoring others is not correct in a democracy. Lack of infrastructure alone is not to blame for the situation that schools find themselves in. How many schools can do what has been done at Nadakkavu?”
Fund availability often was not the problem, Mr. Menon said. “Equally important is their utilisation. Only school headmasters are responsible for financial matters. And without any training, they suffer from lack of confidence on how to utilise it. There should be decentralisation.”