‘Schools have to shine for India to shine’

KOHIMA — The chief executive officer of Centre for Civil Society (CCS) New Delhi, Dr. Amit Chandra, on Tuesday stressed that improving education in the country is key to become a developed nation.

He was of the opinion that to enable India shine, schools have to shine. In this regard, he has sought urgent need to reform education system before it becomes too late.

Dr. Chandra stated this during the 42nd annual general body meeting of the All Nagaland Private School’s Association (ANPSA), Central, held at G Rio School in Kohima on Tuesday. The meeting was held on the theme “The role of private schools in shaping India’s educational future: Rights, regulations and reforms.”

Presenting his speech titled ‘Education system in India’ (Conflict contradiction confusion), Dr. Chandran gave an overview of private schools in India in the past, the present and the future. He has suggested for a more personalised education, working towards creating independent regulatory body for schools so that it focus on improving quality education under NEP 2020, highlighting the achievements of children and schools and opt for direct benefit transfer.

Stating that NEP 2020 identifies the issue of conflict of interest, he suggested for creation of new independent body to create regulatory frameworks and achieve outcome. He was of the opinion that school regulatory bodies should not be led by politicians and bureaucrats but by educationists.

“Private schools flourished post 1990 because quality of education in the government sector was missing giving rise to private education. Today, an approximate of 45 per cent is enrolled in private schools,” he said.

He added that there are more than 15 lakh schools operational in India in 2024, with 11 lakh government schools and four lakh private schools. He went on to state that 73 per cent of students in urban areas attend private schools and 16 states have over 50% of students in private schools.

He pointed out there is a concern within Education ministry and departments due to increase of enrolment in private schools and decrease in government schools.

Citing Ministry of statistics and programme pmplementation (MOSPI 2019) data, he said 45.5% of students in private schools pay less than INR 500 a month as fees, 70% of private school students pay less than INR 1000 per month in fees, 90% of private school students pay less than INR 2000 per month in fees. He went on to add that government per child expenditure way above school fee.

He said private schools are fundamentally responsible to the parents, while in government schools responsibility lies with the authorities.

The president ANPSA central, Nini Sekhose, moderated the session, while Wasenmo Apon, president ANPSA Tseminyu unit, said the invocation prayer and special presentation was made by the students of G Rio School, Kohima.