Government should lay emphasis on Health and EducationOnly if Indian government lays total emphasis on education and healthcare can India become a developed country in the near future. But our system remains deeply unjust. Access to excellence is open only to those who can afford it, while the less-affluent majority has been left behind without even full schooling. In matter of imparting education, India is worse than China and Brazil.
Tragically, political parties, which see education as too distant an issue to produce electoral victories, have shown little anxiety to improve the country's standing. It is time to change this sorry legacy.
It is high time the government gave importance to education and health while making its next plan. More funds should be spent on these two aspects. These funds should be spent in a manner that produces tangible, measurable outcomes.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act empowers all children to demand eight years of schooling, and everything must be done to encourage people to exercise this fundamental right.
In the matter of both education and health new infrastructures are required. The lack of human resources is something that causes most worry. There is half a million teacher-vacancies existing in India. There is the need to have another half a million teachers with requisite qualifications to meet the RTE Act's pupil-teacher ratio. Priority must therefore be accorded to start as many accredited teacher training institutions as necessary. Such a measure can improve learning outcomes, which are far below desirable levels now.
Raising the gross enrolment ratio at the secondary school level from 60 per cent should be the other priority. Expansion of both primary and secondary schooling should remain the responsibility of the state.
But Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the main vehicle for universalisation of elementary education, can tap non-profit initiatives for speedy infrastructure building. Strong commitment towards rising outlays for education alone can determine India's long-term development.
Tragically, political parties, which see education as too distant an issue to produce electoral victories, have shown little anxiety to improve the country's standing. It is time to change this sorry legacy.
It is high time the government gave importance to education and health while making its next plan. More funds should be spent on these two aspects. These funds should be spent in a manner that produces tangible, measurable outcomes.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act empowers all children to demand eight years of schooling, and everything must be done to encourage people to exercise this fundamental right.
In the matter of both education and health new infrastructures are required. The lack of human resources is something that causes most worry. There is half a million teacher-vacancies existing in India. There is the need to have another half a million teachers with requisite qualifications to meet the RTE Act's pupil-teacher ratio. Priority must therefore be accorded to start as many accredited teacher training institutions as necessary. Such a measure can improve learning outcomes, which are far below desirable levels now.
Raising the gross enrolment ratio at the secondary school level from 60 per cent should be the other priority. Expansion of both primary and secondary schooling should remain the responsibility of the state.
But Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the main vehicle for universalisation of elementary education, can tap non-profit initiatives for speedy infrastructure building. Strong commitment towards rising outlays for education alone can determine India's long-term development.
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