Thursday, March 22, 2012

GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, NAXALISM AND PRIVATISATION OF EDUCATION…

A controversial statement is reported to have been made by a prominent Scoio-Religious figure in India, that since Government schools are breeding grounds for Naxalism, school education should be privatized. 

 

Almost all National dailies have carried this report today (22.3.12)

 

We attempt to look at this statement in an unbiased way. 

 

We do not know if the person was quoted out of context or whether he meant a particular area alone and whether it was based on any statistics. 

But, at the outset, the theory appears to militate against reason and facts.  Most of the public figures in various walks of life are products of Government Schooling. 

 

Of course, the Times of India (Coimbatore Edition dated 22.3.12) carries another interesting report based on a study of the use of funds in Government schools.  It says that out of the funds allotted from the Sarva Siksha Abhyan Scheme, very little is actually going to the benefit of the students and that almost 90% goes to benefit only the teachers or the management.  What benefits the teachers at least would percolate to the students, one would wish.  But the report says that most of the expenditure is made in the name of maintenance like white-wash. 

 

Now, this report would appear to support the call for privation of school education.

 

But the actual fact remains, that most of the private schools are also found to be indulging in such misutilisation of funds.  Only, because they are run in the name of Trusts and not accountable to public under the RTI, the quantum of misuse could not come out in the open.  What is in the interest of the institution is decided only by the hand-full of individuals who are the ‘Trustees’.

 

Now, coming to the aspect of rebellion and terrorism, as Naxalism is related with, if someone says that education in Government schools makes pupil capable of indulging in the same, but the private institutions will not allow such tendencies to develop, it can only mean that private education is capable of making its products oblivious of the inequalities in the society and incapacitates them from reacting to it or attempting to change it.  While there is no second opinion that terrorism of any sort is not acceptable in a civil society, to ignore the cause while treating the symptom will hardly help in solving the problem.

 

The root of the problem is inequality in society and, a section however tiny it may be, proclaiming that they do not believe in the ‘Rule of Law’ or the institutions of the State to find a remedy.

 

To advise abandonment of the basic social requirement of education by the Government, will then, amount to abdication of powers, thereby avoiding meeting out the fundamental right to equality and right against exploitation. 

 

Such a step will only lead to further deterioration of the situation, not to contain it.

 

Hence, let us hope that the entire episode had come out of some mis-understanding.

 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

THE SCHOOLS KEEP THEIR WORD-BUT HOW?

Some management representatives had earlier threatened to call in the police and register 'tress-pass' complaint against Parents, who will dare to question them in the school campus.  The first instance has already happened at Chinmaya Vidhyalaya, Vadavalli, today (14.3.2012) morning.  The school had compelled 5 parents of students of 11th standard to pay up the fees arbitrarily and exorbitantly fixed by the school.  Otherwise they were threatened that the children will not be allowed to take the 11th exams scheduled to begin today.  When the representatives of the SWAP of that school went to meet the Principal, the school insisted on the payment and issued the same threat.  When the representatives told the school authorities of the directive of the District Collector in the matter, they are reported to have stated that the District Collector had in fact asked them to collect fees as they deemed fit.  The police was summoned and action was sought to be taken against the parents.  On being contacted, we have advised them to send the children for the exam and if they are not allowed to take the exams, then we will take action on the same.  We can imagine what a respect the children will have for such institutions which harass them even at the eleventh hour before final exams!

SWAP representatives of all schools are hereby advised to desist discussing the issues with the managements since they have shown their real colours.  Let us take it up legally with concerned authorities.  

Please keep us and the PRESS informed about any violations to rights of Children particularly.

Monday, March 12, 2012

WHY WE DIFFER


The various reactions that have emanated from the managements of the schools, through the press, utterings to parents or parent bodies in schools, or during the just concluded talks with the District Collector have underlined the main points of differences between the managements and the Parent Bodies/educationalists.  Though some of the arguments were made during the discussions before the District Collector, we did not engage in exhaustive replies or to counter each and every point, due to paucity of time as well as not to allow the proceeding to go waste by falling into the trap of arguments and counter arguments.  However, since most of these arguments have been made by them in the media and to parents/children in schools also, for enabling the members to have a proper assessment, we are giving their points in block letters and the actual position as seen by us in italics below each:

Children are not harassed or put to any trauma on the fees issue.   To state that the schools are doing it is a motivated false allegation:

The facts are known to all the parents whose children have been harassed, singled out or discriminated against in one way or other on this issue.  Hence, we need not explain the lie in the argument.  At best a school could speak for itself, not in common on this issue.  For that matter, even where specific instances have been reported, the schools have been denying the same on record but perpetuating it in practice.   

Asking children to pay up is an age old practice and cannot be complained against. 

Practices have to change with change in times and as per the law of the land.  It used to be an age old practice to cane children or even bang their heads.  Not any more.  Children also have become more sensitive.  Further, using teachers to speak to children on issues of fees would only denigrate the stature of the teachers in the minds of the children, who are taught to worship teachers for their self-less service.

When the Corporation threatens to disconnect water supply due to arrears of tax, it is not taken as harassment.  Then why in the case of school fees it should be treated as harassment.

Corporation can threaten to disconnect water supply only against arrears of a legal fees.  Not something above the prescribed fees.  It can be done only with proper notice and as per law.  The so called threat also cannot be delivered on the children, instead of the head of a family.  Threatening for fees than prescribed by law is like threatening to withdraw a fundamental right for not paying a bribe.

Actually, no school is running on profit.  We find it difficult to run the affairs with the fixed fees.

Let them have the guts to prove this by putting their accounts before the parents.  In those cases where we have details, it is not a fact. The increasing growth of groups of institutions also does not support this argument.

The land and building belongs to us.  If we want, we can build flats instead of running schools.  If we are not allowed to conduct our business as per our convenience, we will close down the schools.  Government cannot dictate to us.

Enjoyment of various concessions by these schools is based on the fact that most of the trusts are registered as charitable trusts for a defined and definite purpose.  It is not a private property.  Even in private property, all land belongs to the State and ownership is subject to Constitutional guarantees as well as restrictions. In the case of Trusts, the responsibility of the Trustee to the property of the trust is akin to that of a Public Servant to Government property.  The trusts cannot expect parents to pay returns on the capital gained by them through donations given by the parents themselves or by the society.  The donations were given for the particular cause and not for doing business like building flats and selling them.  Recognition has been granted to them for running a school only as per their own application for recognition.  To threaten the Government against implementing a law is ___??????.

If parents do not want our school they can put their wards in any other school.

Very old argument.! Does not hold good any more due to enactment of Fee determination Act.  Now the question is whether the product on which an MRP has been legally determined will be allowed to be sold at a higher price.

If parents do not want to avail of the facilities and extra facilities provided by us, they can put their children in Government schools.

This argument also is a worn out one in the light of the enactment of the RTE Act where even the Government has made it mandatory that at least 25% should be admitted into private schools, from the deprived sections of the society. 
Further, the District Collector categorically stated in the meeting on 10.3.12 that extra-curricular activities cannot be imposed on every one and can be only optional. 
In the case of extra- curricular activities and facilities, it should be restricted to out of school timings and not during the approved school time.
During the meeting on 10.3.12 itself, we have pointed out that the Fees has determined only after considering the expenses and facilities in each school and therefore the excuse of facilities cannot be an argument to collect higher fees than that is determined.

Parents are not bothered about the necessity to pay the teachers salary.

Parents have never objected to paying the staff (whether teaching or non-teaching) a decent salary.  In fact in the candle light meeting held on 3.3.12 in memory of Late Teacher Uma Maheswari and Late Student Anooj, we have passed a resolution that when the Government goes through the expenditure statement of the schools at the time of fixing fees, they should also look into the salary paid to teachers based on minimum wages and other relevant acts.  On the contrary, is widely stated, that in many institutions, the actual payments made are far less than what is shown on records (Many teachers are also Parents).  To stem such tendencies and exploitation, we prefer to have a properly-democratically constituted PTA. But, for that what do they say?  See below:

We do not want to form PTA and we cannot run the school as per their wishes.

When even a country as complex and big as India could be run democratically, how come schools run by Trusts are an exception?  How do managements think that parents of children of the school and teachers giving their entire life for the benefit of the institution will advice adversely - unless of course the interests of the institution are not the same as the that of the individuals managing the institutions - what blatant methods of exposing themselves!
Do these schools not see the danger in the situation even after the violent incidents that took away the life of a teacher in Chennai and that of a student at Udumelpet and realize that a communication gap between the parent community and teaching community is detrimental to the campus atmosphere in schools?

Last but not the least, the arrogant manner exhibited during the meeting before the District Collector by some representatives of the Management made us wonder thus:  If such behaviour could be exhibited before authorities, how they will be behaving to the staff who are totally at their mercy and if this is their attitude to Parents from whom they are collecting fees, how they will be expected to behave with innocent children inside the campus? 

Can those who are not able to respect the roots, be reasonably be expected to worship the fruits alone?

A HISTORIC EVENT


The District of Coimbatore has once again set an example for the rest of the state in terms of dealing with the issues relating to private schools. We are thankful to the District Collector, Shri. M. Karunakaran and the District Administration for enabling this District to once again achieve a distinction of setting an example.

          Last time, it was from Coimbatore that the flame of resistance to indiscriminate fee hike by private schools spread across the state in 2009.  The protests by parents –from the middle class who otherwise would not have taken the strain to take to the streets – made the Government bring in legislation to determine fees in private schools.

          With the private schools giving scant regard to the fees determined as per the said law – which to their chagrin was upheld by the Supreme Court – and keep demanding fees as per their own sweet will and wish, parents have once again been forced to seek the intervention of the Government to ensure that the ‘Rule of Law’ in this matter, does prevail.

          On being petitioned by the COC Of SWAP, Cbe on 13.2.2012, the District Collector, Coimbatore had promised to call for a triparte talks.

          He kept his word by calling the representatives of the Parent Bodies, the Managements of the schools, who had themselves made subsequent petitions and held discussions in the presence of the Officers of the Educational Departement, Police, Revenue and the Corporation. 


          In brief the District Collector has given the following directions:
  • Parents may represent their grievances regarding private school fees and related subjects, to the Chief Educational Officer, Coimbatore, who as the head of a five member committee in the District will give his findings on the complaint within 30 days to the District Collector, with a copy to the complainant.  Parents need not therefore hold any more demonstrations before the schools for getting their grievances redressed.
  • Schools shall not compel parents to pay donations.  They shall not collect any fees over and above the fees determined by the committee.  If they have grievance regarding the determined amount, they may get it revised through legal means and until then they shall not collect more than that is determined.
  • Schools shall not make extra-curricular activities compulsory.
  • If the complaints against any of the above issues are found true, severe action will be taken against the schools which may affect their recognition also.

The parent bodies have heaved a sigh of relief.  The directions have been encouraging.  Reporters from the press have asked us immediately after the said meeting as to whether we think that this meeting will make any effect on the scenario.  We have stated that since many of the managements have been barging about ‘nobody can do anything to us’, with this categorical statement by the head of the District Administration, we feel that they will understand the signal that the Government is with the people and therefore there will be a difference in the attitude of the School Managements.