Mailbox

Thanks for your detailed cover story on the provisions of the Right to Education Bill, 2005 (EW January). While the Bill rightly guarantees every child aged six-14 the right to free and full-time elementary education, I was shocked to read the Bill also mandates all private schools to provide free education to poor children from their neighbourhoods to the extent of 25 percent of capacity in primary school.

This provision is outrageous. Why should a private school which is not supported by the government financially or academically reserve 25 percent of its capacity for children free of charge? How are private school managements expected to subsidise these children? By charging other students higher fees or will the govern-ment pay their fees? The government must respect the constitutional right of private citizens to establish and manage education institutions.

A coalition of private schools, educationists and parents must be immediately formed to protest this provision nationwide. The obligation of private schools to provide free education to poor children must be voluntary; it cannot be imposed by law because it is wrong in principle.

If this Bill becomes law, tomorrow the government may mandate every affluent household to provide shelter and clothing to one poor family or 5-star private hotels to offer free food to ten poor families everyday. Government interference in private enterprises it does not fund is unacceptable. Dr. Parth Shah has rendered valuable service by exposing the inequities of the RTE Bill 2005.

The report titled ‘Crumbling school system’ in your education news section (EW January) clearly exposes the callous attitude of the Uttar Pradesh government towards education. It is appalling that most schools in India’s most populated state are characterised by crumbling buildings and poor infrastructure, which explains why UP hosts the highest population of illiterates and poor people.

The question that arises is how is UP which is so close to the national capital, so underdeveloped? I submit it is essentially because of petty caste and communal politics. By keeping the flames of caste hatred burning, corrupt politicians of the state have managed to divert public attention from development issues to line their own pockets.

Shashi Kumar S.
Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)

I enjoyed reading the January issue of EducationWorld. It was full of readable and useful information. I found the leisure and travel article on Indonesia particularly well-written. From what the author Dev Sukumar writes, it’s possible to enjoy a fabulous holiday in Indonesia without burning a hole in your pocket. Of course one had heard about exotic Bali, but I had no clue that there were plenty of smaller, equally beautiful islands in this archipelago.

I suggest you do a part II report on Indonesia giving details about these lesser-known islands. I’m sure it will be even cheaper to holiday on them.

I really appreciated your cover story on the Right to Education Bill, 2005 (EW January); thank you for it.

I also appreciated Dr. Parth Shah’s arguments except for his recommending the education voucher/ coupon system. Naturally I’m unaware of the details of his design but a coupon system, if inclusive, can drain resources from the government system. Poor children in many rural areas who have a limited choice of schools to attend will be hurt the most. On the other hand, well-off parents in cities will get coupons that will translate into a subsidy for them, while poor household children will still have to go to poorer private schools, where fees may actually rise because of the voucher system.

In a situation where there is an overall shortage of supply, the coupon system will work to their disadvantage. Government schools which are already bad will close for want of funds, or want of students, as funding to them may be reduced. Children in rural and remote areas who are dependent on such government schools will suffer if there is no private school in the area. Also, all private schools are not run well, especially if they are in a monopoly location, with no government school.

Therefore the coupon system suggestion is fraught with danger. Instead it would be advisable to focus on (1) building public support for education and (2) involving the community through the School Development Management Committees that we need to energise.

We met last summer at the National Governors Conference 2005 in Des Moines, Iowa. After your speech to the governors, I read EducationWorld which featured a special report on the Parikrma schools for socio-economically backward children in Bangalore.

I passed EW along to my daughter, Elizabeth, a junior at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, USA. Impressed by the mission of the Parikrma Humanity Foundation, she applied to work as a short-term volunteer in one of its schools. She is already in Bangalore and will work there until March 12. It is an interesting and moving experience for her, she reports. She is learning a lot about your country, working with these children.

I want you to know how your journalism had an impact on this young woman and my family. Thank you.

David Yepsen
Des Moines
Iowa (USA)