Hope soarsahead of big challenge

Updated on: Saturday, April 14, 2012

What electrician Naresh Kumar's three-year-old daughter achieved last year was beyond the reach of anybody in his family till one generation ago. She got admission in a sought-after Delhi Public School, her father's meagre income notwithstanding. Kumar's daughter was one of the beneficiaries of Right to Education introduced two years ago throughout the country. For him, the right changed the level of his dreams and most certainly, the future of his family.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court validated the constitutional right that assures free and compulsory education to children aged between six and 14 years. School teachers, in their capacity as education providers, welcome the move. But they are also quick to add that RTE is a mammoth challenge that can be met only if the government works together with private schools.

Ameeta Mulla Wattal, principal, Springdales School, Pusa Road, said, "The response of parents from the economically weaker section is phenomenal. They are over the moon about it. This explains how our school received 1,500 applications for just 20 EWS seats in nursery this year. Every single parent was present in the school for the draw of lots and the kind of joy they had when their child got selected was unparalleled," said

However, she added, "Most private schools in the city have been reserving seats for EWS even before RTE came in. But now even the government has to work for setting up quality institutions, teacher empowerment and a pedagogy shift." She questioned why parents would most likely choose a bad private school over a good government school.

One answer to that lies in upgrading the infrastructure and quality at government schools. Students there may come from a poor background, but schools do not have to be reflective of their living conditions. "There are 100 students to one teacher in government schools. Desks are broken and toilets are dirty. This is the general perceptions. Which is why the pressure falls on private schools which are too few in number," said a school principal who did not wish to be named.atio.

But the EWS reservation in private school has left many challenges inside the classrooms, too. Manju Bharat Ram, chairperson, Shri Ram School, said, "Many times, language is a barrier. Also, parents do not turn up at school for meetings and teachers have to call them up to explain what the child has been taught and how they can help." D R Saini, principal, DPS RK Puram, added, "Providing education is our moral duty. We will do it in the best way possible."

Hope soarsahead of big challenge

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