Current education system  in india

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India has one of the most complex education systems in the world—with 1.5 million schools and more than 250 million student enrolments. Even though education receives a lot of attention and investment, learning outcomes have declined, and the quality of instruction is poor, and teacher absenteeism is also a big problem. Where are we going wrong?

Here are some key insights that could help influence decisions with regards to education.

There is a dramatic increase in rise of privatisation, particularly affordable private schools (APS)

The number of private schools has increased by more than 77 thousand in India, which is six times more than the increase of government schools, between 2010/11 and 2015/16. Simultaneously at this time, government school enrolment dropped by 13.1 million, and private school enrolment rose by 17.5 million

A key player in the rise of privatisation of education has been affordable private schools (APS). These school are private and unaided, and charge less than INR 1500 per month. Though the APS market is no more than 100,000 schools, they are changing education delivery in India—both in urban and rural spaces. The assumption by parents is that APS’ delivery better quality education as compared to government schools, while being cheaper than other private schools.

Cost effectiveness is a big factor in favour of these schools, and they achieve profit margins of more than 20%, sometimes going as high as 50% and 70%.

Government schools need to be supported

With all these small private schools cropping up all over the country, promising ‘English medium’ education, the assumption is that quality of education is higher here compared to government schools. However, research indicates that on average, private schools deliver only as well as government schools. The percentage of teachers who receive training in private schools is also much lower than in government schools, and supporting government schools is the only way to ensure the government’s commitment to the right to education.

Parents play a big part influencing learning outcomes

A child’s brain is built, rather than inherently present, shaped by experience and environment. This informs the way children grow and learn, and education starts at home. To do justice to this, parents, teachers, and the school system need to partner and work together.

Children from disadvantaged communities don’t always have access to an environment that encourages learning. Parents from low-income families struggle to find the time to support their children, and are trapped between the need of providing for them economically, and being there for them and nurture them. The lack of networks that middle- and upper-income parents have access to also adds to this problem.

For children to do well, parental support and a home environment conducive to learning are integral. Improving education outcomes can contribute directly to a student’s employability and, with time, economic security.