Do you think the government has the funds to set up adequate number of schools ? if not, then how will the government meet the challenge of access, equity and quality in education?
Answers
Yes, the government has the funds to set up an adequate number of schools. However, meeting the challenge of equity in education is a different issue altogether. Having the infrastructure in place does not guarantee that the teachers appointed will have high caliber or that students will be willing to attend classes.
Building a school is the starting point, after which the government has to take many more measures to ensure that children in remote areas also have access to education. Yet another issue that the government will have to deal with is the mindset of the people. Many people living in rural areas are so cut off from the mainstream that they are not aware of the importance of education and hence do not give it any weightage. They will need to be coerced into sending their wards to school. A lot of freebies will have to be given away, like uniforms, books and stationary, to woo the learners. Mid day meals are part of the same thought process.
Another factor to consider is the qualifications as well as dedication level of the teachers appointed. Teachers in government schools have permanent positions which make them complacent and unwilling to put in efforts. This makes the students lose interest and defeats the entire purpose of funding more school buildings.
Thus, having enough funds is not the only criteria that needs to be fulfilled to meet the challenge of access and equity.