Equal education for everyone

The Right to Education Bill tabled in Parliament bans entry-level tests in private schools and requires them to reserve 25% seats for poor neighbourhood children.

Though principals of some schools in the city agree that such tests are not required, the Bill may face opposition on other counts. One of these is that private schools might have to implement uniform standards and regulations.

“Schools may have to downgrade their standards of education, their fee structure and consequently teacher salaries, and deliver a curriculum that may need to be absorbed by a diverse population of students,” says Upasana Saraf, HR in-charge for Bombay Cambridge Schools.  

Educationist Kavita Anand feels that in good-practice private schools, uniformity becomes a problem because the municipal school does not want to extend itself and improve. “So the private school is expected to tone down, which is unacceptable to paying parents,” she says.

Says Kashmira Gundevia, principal of Maneckji Cooper School: “Every institution is run as an expression of thoughts and ideas and values. To curb such expressions of creativity is not justified.”

Some principals have reservations about the quota for disadvantaged students. “In some schools, such students will face a culture shock,” says J Vas, the principal of Jamnabai Narsee School. “They might not be able to adjust and face emotional problems.”
Educationist Aamod Karkhanis believes private schools’ opposition has to do with class and commerce.

“Private schools stand in danger of losing their ‘class exclusivity’, though many will not admit to it,” Karkhanis says adding further, “The other reason is financial. If this bill becomes law, private schools will have to admit more poor students irrespective of financial abilities.” 

He also feels that the government will compensate the fees of such students to the extent of real costs, and the chance to make profits from exorbitant fee structures will be reduced.

On the concept of neighbourhood schooling, however, everybody seems to be in agreement. Says Saraf, “Such schooling can solve the commutation problems helping children spend lesser time travelling.”

Says Avnita Bir, principal, RN Podar School, “We are a very inclusive school - our students come from various backgrounds and we are all for diversity. I think neighbourhood schooling is a brilliant idea.”

Anand says neighbourhood schooling will bring up the standards of schools as they will get militant parents who want good education for their children in the PTA.

“In the west, such schools don’t always work because like-minded parents tend to choose the same neighbourhood. In India, it may lead to even more of a ghetto mentality, with vegan neighbourhoods leading to vegan schools!”