Comments on: Poll – What should be India’s top developmental priority? http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/12/17/developmental-priority/ Dedicated to "Bharat" and "Dharma" Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:35:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: K.Harapriya http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/12/17/developmental-priority/comment-page-1/#comment-19318 K.Harapriya Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:50:45 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=714#comment-19318 One avenue of universal education that we need to seriously explore in India are the traditional education systems that existed prior to the British arriving in India. My understanding of Indian history is that the existing systems of India were dismantled by the British. One avenue of universal education that we need to seriously explore in India are the traditional education systems that existed prior to the British arriving in India. My understanding of Indian history is that the existing systems of India were dismantled by the British.

]]> By: K.Harapriya http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/12/17/developmental-priority/comment-page-1/#comment-19316 K.Harapriya Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:17:20 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=714#comment-19316 @Shantanu. As a product of an American education system and later a parent who has sent children to the much maligned American public school system, I can honestly say that the system is fairly good at its job of teaching kids to read, write and think independently. Much of quality issues in the US are related to the place one lives--good neighborhoods have better schools and attract better teachers. But one need not use America as an example. We can use Singapore or Japan, both countries having one of the best educated kids in the world (according to UNICEF). Both these countries have a public education system which nearly all the kids attend. Private schools account for less than 5% of schools especially in the primary schools. When I suggested that the government and taxpayers demand that when their taxes go to fund education for a medical, or engineering student, that student has a reciprocal duty to perform, it is only in the interest of fairness. After all why should some students get a free lunch while the rest who go to private universities pay through the nose. If fact Anbumoni Ramdass did suggest this of medical students who pass out of government colleges--that they serve the rural poor for a few years. But of course, this was protested by the students. @Shantanu. As a product of an American education system and later a parent who has sent children to the much maligned American public school system, I can honestly say that the system is fairly good at its job of teaching kids to read, write and think independently. Much of quality issues in the US are related to the place one lives–good neighborhoods have better schools and attract better teachers. But one need not use America as an example. We can use Singapore or Japan, both countries having one of the best educated kids in the world (according to UNICEF).
Both these countries have a public education system which nearly all the kids attend. Private schools account for less than 5% of schools especially in the primary schools.

When I suggested that the government and taxpayers demand that when their taxes go to fund education for a medical, or engineering student, that student has a reciprocal duty to perform, it is only in the interest of fairness. After all why should some students get a free lunch while the rest who go to private universities pay through the nose.
If fact Anbumoni Ramdass did suggest this of medical students who pass out of government colleges–that they serve the rural poor for a few years. But of course, this was protested by the students.

]]> By: B Shantanu http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/12/17/developmental-priority/comment-page-1/#comment-19312 B Shantanu Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:08:13 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=714#comment-19312 @ Harapriya: We are walking into a minefield of arguments here... Let me try and put some thoughts across. While it is true that every developed country has a public education system which provides free education, it is not necessarily a "quality" education. I know this first-hand from my experience in the UK and from fairly authoritative sources (parents) in the US. In most of these countries, a public education system exists side-by-side with the private one...as it does (informally) in India. I do not believe that "when you privatize sectors, the only thing that takes over is the profit motive" - I think this is too simplistic an argument and does not stand empirical scrutiny..Let us take India's IT and BPO sectors...while they have no doubt created profits for many, they have also opened up a vast number of jobs and opportunities for millions... Likewise, opening up the aviation sector has created opportunities and jobs for many...and made air travel cheaper and easier. To make sure that basic education and healthcare doesn ot remain out of bounds of the common people, one can look at various alternatives including e.g. health and education vouchers. Streamlining the bureaucracy must obviously be high on the agenda...but is easier said than done...and giving the entire IAS cadre the boot will be the surest way to anarchy in large parts of India. I also disagree with the idea of forcing people to work for the government...If the government is really that good (or noble) it should be able to attract high-quality people... As you say, the taxes should surely go the poor and underserved...and at the moment, they hardly do... *** @ Anon: It would be great if you could share some more perspectives based on your experience with UNICEF. WHat do you think of the education vouchers idea? *** All: Pl. note that you can still vote in the poll on the sidebar. Also have a look at some of the "other" comments in the post above. @ Harapriya: We are walking into a minefield of arguments here…

Let me try and put some thoughts across. While it is true that every developed country has a public education system which provides free education, it is not necessarily a “quality” education.
I know this first-hand from my experience in the UK and from fairly authoritative sources (parents) in the US.
In most of these countries, a public education system exists side-by-side with the private one…as it does (informally) in India.

I do not believe that “when you privatize sectors, the only thing that takes over is the profit motive” – I think this is too simplistic an argument and does not stand empirical scrutiny..Let us take India’s IT and BPO sectors…while they have no doubt created profits for many, they have also opened up a vast number of jobs and opportunities for millions…

Likewise, opening up the aviation sector has created opportunities and jobs for many…and made air travel cheaper and easier.

To make sure that basic education and healthcare doesn ot remain out of bounds of the common people, one can look at various alternatives including e.g. health and education vouchers.

Streamlining the bureaucracy must obviously be high on the agenda…but is easier said than done…and giving the entire IAS cadre the boot will be the surest way to anarchy in large parts of India.

I also disagree with the idea of forcing people to work for the government…If the government is really that good (or noble) it should be able to attract high-quality people…

As you say, the taxes should surely go the poor and underserved…and at the moment, they hardly do…

***

@ Anon: It would be great if you could share some more perspectives based on your experience with UNICEF. WHat do you think of the education vouchers idea?

***

All: Pl. note that you can still vote in the poll on the sidebar. Also have a look at some of the “other” comments in the post above.

]]> By: Anonymous http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/12/17/developmental-priority/comment-page-1/#comment-19255 Anonymous Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:09:11 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=714#comment-19255 Education undoubtedly. I worked in UNICEF for over 20 years & hence believe that I understand devlopment indices wel. All others are very important too,but if the poor get quality education India will leap to great heights as we would have empowered our people who will get the engine moving. At the moment status of education is appalling. The poor will never get to schools and even if they do go to school will never finish it. We are not ecven mentioning quality qwhich is so bad and which is why the children never finish school. It is the politicians interest to keep thm uneducated -- who will listen to them if not the poor? Who will work on their fields and listen to all their taunts? Education undoubtedly. I worked in UNICEF for over 20 years & hence believe that I understand devlopment indices wel. All others are very important too,but if the poor get quality education India will leap to great heights as we would have empowered our people who will get the engine moving. At the moment status of education is appalling. The poor will never get to schools and even if they do go to school will never finish it. We are not ecven mentioning quality qwhich is so bad and which is why the children never finish school. It is the politicians interest to keep thm uneducated — who will listen to them if not the poor? Who will work on their fields and listen to all their taunts?

]]> By: K. Harapriya http://satyameva-jayate.org/2008/12/17/developmental-priority/comment-page-1/#comment-19244 K. Harapriya Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:32:39 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/?p=714#comment-19244 The idea that the Government of India is incapable of running an education system efficiently is not really true. They seem to run a pretty good system when it comes to serving their own employees. The Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools which cater to the Government employees and their children is a fairly good school and is located in pretty much all parts of India. These schools are known for providing a pretty good standard of education. It seems the government needs to now start serving the taxpayers as well as it treats itself. The idea that the Government of India is incapable of running an education system efficiently is not really true. They seem to run a pretty good system when it comes to serving their own employees. The Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools which cater to the Government employees and their children is a fairly good school and is located in pretty much all parts of India. These schools are known for providing a pretty good standard of education. It seems the government needs to now start serving the taxpayers as well as it treats itself.

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