The private school versus government school debate

The private school versus government school debate

Recently, I stumbled upon a thought-provoking tale about an old woman who used to sell idlis for just one rupee each. Her loyal customers cherished her affordable treats until a savvy businessman opened a new shop nearby, giving away idlis for free to lure the crowd. Naturally, people flocked to the new shop, leaving the old woman’s stall deserted. However, one day, the businessman hiked the price to ₹5 per idli. A few months later, he raised it to ₹10. The sudden hike left the customers frustrated and they searched for the old woman, only to discover that she had closed her shop and disappeared.

This story perfectly mirrors how private telecom operators initially offered free data, attracting millions of users only to gradually hike tarriffs once they had a solid subscriber base and have weakened the government-run BSNL. One may argue that private telecom operators provide better service than BSNL and justify their higher tariffs, but the real question is why the government has allowed the once profit-making BSNL to lose its competitive edge in the market. Analysing this issue may lead to more uncomfortable questions.

This has a parallel in the education sector as well, with the principles of privatisation being applied to education. This model is often referred to as the “McDonaldisation” of education, as private schools run by popular groups apply market-oriented principles such as efficiency, standardisation of services, brand reliability, and consumerism to education. This raises questions about whether private schools have become stronger, leading to the weakening of government schools, and whether the impact on common people is positive or negative.

There are three main types of schools in our country: government-run, government-aided, and private. The first is fully funded and operated by the government. The second is funded by the government but owned and run by private trusts. Private schools are run by individuals or organisations and funded through student fees.

With a rapid increase in the privatisation of the Indian education sector in the past two decades, the number of private educational institutions across the country has increased. According to UDISE+, a Management Information System initiated by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, private schools account for around 35% of the total schools.

It is undeniable that parents prefer private schools over government-run ones for various reasons. Certain myths have been perpetuated such as the belief that government schools lack competent teachers and cannot provide a good education. Some even borrow money or sell property to admit their children to private schools and pay the exorbitant fees because they believe that private schools offer a better education and assume that it will lead to greater success in life. This trend has a negative impact on both students and the nation.

Many government-aided and some government-run schools surpass private schools in several aspects, including the quality of education and affordability. However, in some areas, private schools have an edge. While there are notable advantages to studying in private schools, there are also many disadvantages. Private schools often charge exorbitant fees for tuition, textbooks, uniforms, and extracurricular activities. Some even collect capitation fees under different names, such as development or building funds. This is a huge burden on families that cannot afford these costs. Even middle-class people are lured by the empty promises and tall claims made by certain private schools, leading them to seek admission for their children despite the high fees. This has become a struggle between the haves and the have-nots, creating educational inequality and denying opportunities to students who cannot afford the fees.