The state of Elementary Education in our State
Wasim Parvez
‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the
world. ‘ argues celebrated statesman of the twenty-first century- Nelson Mandela. If we have a glance at the plight of education in India, it is
touching new heights day by day. At the time of independence 12% of Indians were literate but now the figure is quite different since the literacy
rate is almost 75% at the national level. We should admit that quality has also been augmented to a great extent. While having a glance of our own
state, especially Kashmir valley, it is worth mentioning that we are still lagging behind both in quality and quantity.
A decade ago central
govt. launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for universalisation of elementary education. At present we can see thousands of school buildings
throughout the state. The essence of this scheme is currently being projected in a wrong way as there is a mushrooming growth of primary schools even
in the habitations where there are not requisite number of students. Initially classwork of these so called schools is held either in open atmosphere
or in rented rooms not facilitated well till a building is raised by the authorities. Every system is having a few loopholes as we can’t imagine
an ideal or perfect system, but our education sector suffers from a number of loopholes.
Without seeing the feasibility schools are
sanctioned for those hamlets where there is no urgent need to do so. In these schools mostly poor children are enrolled in these schools. SSA scheme
has become only a vehicle for creating posts without desirable results. The eligibility criteria that was framed almost a decade ago for recruitment
as Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in these schools, is outdated now because of the increasing standards in education. Youth are being pooled into the
teaching profession in bulk without assessing their capabilities for this once called noble job. Govt. Should revise the appointment criteria for
teachers under SSA and other schemes.
The number of unemployed qualified youth is increasing day by day. The concerned authorities must absorb
deserving candidates as teachers. Isn’t it a sheer injustice to appoint 10+2 candidates as RET while a NET qualified or MPhil candidate is
roaming idle! The criterion of selection should be at least at the Block or Zonal level. Above all the education department should not compromise with
the infrastructure.Instead of creating new openings of elementary schools govt should upgrade infrastructure of the already existed schools which are
in a deplorable condition. Let us not make it a trade. There should be a judicial use of public money. It should not be wasted at the cost of quality
for there is a dire need to upgrade infrastructure for the upliftment of govt schools particularly at lower level.
Opening new schools in a
locality where there are already many schools existed or created is not genuine. There are regions and villages where there is no facility for
schooling. Instead of bending to any pressures from big wigs concerned officials should personally visit the respective villages for working out the
desirable feasibility conditions. Allah will never forgive those who don’t exercise their powers in a proper way.
Everyone from a peon
to Chief Minister is a public servant but unfortunately they consider their positions as a property. Universalization of Elementary Education is a
good initiative but it should not be at the cost of quality education. Incase there would have been a positive change in the attitude of govt.
Teachers especially at the elementary level then our society had not continued to treat govt. Schools inferior, even though govt. claims to spend
crores of rupees annually on education sector. Even govt. Teachers themselves are not confident that their wards will receive a good education in
their workplaces that is why they are compelled to send them in expensive private schools. At the end of the day it is the poor child from a neglected
background who suffers at the hands of the same teachers who are being paid off a handsome salary for their job. We must admit the fact that problem
lies somewhere within the system otherwise Govt. Schools would reach attain the objective of quality education. As a matter of fact nobody cares, only
documentation work takes place.
Email: mirparvaizahmad@yahoo.co.in
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