Advertisement
Home ArticlesSpecial Articles

BIG Joke: Cleanse The Education System

BIG Joke: Cleanse The Education System

Education Minister in Andhra Pradesh government, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, has made a rather interesting statement. He has announced that drastic changes will be initiated in the education system to clean up the present system.

On the face of it, it appears to be simple statement from a minister who has taken charge recently. But if one looks at the way the successive governments facilitated corporatization of education in erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, it gives raise to further concern.

Instead of saying that he will initiate changes in the way the much neglected government-run schools and colleges are run and proposing changes to ensure that they get proper infrastructure and facilities to make education accessible to the poorest of the poor, Ganta has made a carpet statement that does not give any insights into a concrete road map for change.

Incidentally, the last 20 years have seen the mushrooming of various corporate educational institutions all of which have made education very costly in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Almost all governments including the TDP have been privy to giving permissions to private institutions that have turned education into a viable business. In the process, the government-run institutions at various levels have been totally neglected. In fact, we have also heard stories of some private institutions ‘buying’ toppers for a price for publicity.

Incidentally, the head of Narayana Institutions which has branches all over Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is a minister in Chandra Babu’s cabinet. His institution is a prime example of the corporate style in which educational institutions are run in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Following the statement by Ganta, many are doubtful if any substantial steps would be taken to weed out money-oriented, factory-style educational institutions. Despite constantly carrying stories about ‘private mafia’ in education, media has remained surprisingly silent following Ganta’s statement.

It is being felt that Ganta should have been more specific about what exactly he meant when he spoke about cleansing the system. It would have been more effective if he talked of curtailing the private mafia and infusing life into neglected government-run educational institutions.

RELATED ARTICLES