Editor,
Rivaldo Kurbah has aptly concluded his letter, “Purpose & role of educational institutions” (ST, May 14, 2019), by saying that educational centres have unfortunately become profit making business which is the main problem of our educational system in India. The expert in development economics, Jean Drèze has underscored the need for a big movement in India to improve the quality of education and to halt the privatisation of education.
He said, “When I grew up (in Belgium), there were many private schools but they were mainly non-profit schools run by NGOs, churches, civic organisations. They had government subsidy and they performed extremely well. But in India, the private sector in education is mostly the commercial sector, and I don’t think this is appropriate for elementary education.”
On being asked why market competition is bad for the schooling system, he said that for competition to work, consumers must have a fair idea of the product they are getting. For example, if you are buying an umbrella, you can see what it is made of, open it, close it and you get an idea of what you are paying for. “But illiterate parents sending their children to school – what would they know about the quality of education their children are getting?” he clarified.
Indeed, a good schooling system is supposed to provide children with a level playing field. But commercial education with the sole motive to maximize profits, fails this objective. It is more so in a country like India which has a heavy historical baggage of all kinds of inequality – caste, class, language and gender.
Universal Quality Education is therefore a crying need for India – a country that suffers from extreme social inequality. The Indian government should not be mesmerised by economic growth sans human development.
Jean Drèze has clearly explained why development must have wide ranging public actions like education, health, nutrition, social security, environmental protection, public transport etc. Indian government should fulfill its responsibility for which it has been elected to power. It must not hand over its major responsibilities to the corporate sector.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Via email
Rynjah where no traffic laws operate
Editor,
Is Rynjah locality without any Headman/Rangbah Shnong? The locality which was previously a housing society is now a thoroughfare for people travelling to New Shillong and NEIGRIHMS. The road is already very small but vehicles are allowed to be parked on both sides of the road especially near the Community Hall which seems to have some function or the other going on for 365 days. People who attend the functions believe it is their birthright to park their vehicles right next to the Hall without a care about the large number of traffic traversing that way.
What is surprising is that the Shillong Traffic Police seem to consider that busy locality to be beyond their jurisdiction hence people are emboldened to break all traffic rules. Interestingly, a Minister of this MDA Government, AL Hek also resides there and I am sure he sees all the chaos but has not raised a finger to ensure that there is no unnecessary disruption of traffic in the area. Is that not one of the tasks of a public representative irrespective of whether he represents the constituency or not? And what about the MLA, Charles Pyngrope? Has he ever visited this area in the day time to see the complete traffic chaos created by vehicles including taxis parked on both sides of the narrow road?
As a concerned citizen, I request the SP Traffic (Shillong) to visit this area and put a system in place which if violated must entail a heavy fine. Let us see how many vehicles are clamped on this thoroughfare.
Yours etc.,
A Kharkongor,
Via email
Who is the real thief?
Editor,
Chandra Babu Naidu’s three year old granddaughter has a net-worth of Rs 19 crore. But he says, ‘Modi chor hai.’ Mayawati owns Rs 5000 crore worth of declared assets earned out of her agricultural income. She is one of the most successful farmers. But she also thinks, ‘Modi chor hai…’ Akhilesh Yadav has increased his assets by Rs 1300 crore just in one term as chief minister. But even Akhilesh says, ‘Modi chor hai.’ Sonia Gandhi is the 4th richest politician in the world without even occupying any position. She was not even deployed anywhere. She and her son Rahul also think, ‘Modi chor hai’
A Swiss magazine displays 15 most corrupt leaders in the world including Rajiv Gandhi of India in a recent publication with photographs. Bofors is still shadowing Rajiv Gandhi & dynasty. Sharad Pawar the king of wealth also thinks, ‘Modi chor hai.’ A failed politician like Abhishek Manu Singhvi form Congress also owns Rs 1000 crore assets- “thanks to Gandhi loyalty”. But he says on TV, ‘Modi chor hai.’ Modi owns one apartment in Ahmedabad and Rs 3 lahk fixed deposit in spite of having being Chief Minister of a rich industrial state of Gujarat for 13 years and Prime Minister of the country for five years. Modi’s entire family is still working and living as middle class citizens.
Let the people of India now decide who the real chors and who is not!
Yours etc.,
Samares Bandyopadhyay
Via email