I read an article in Times Of India today about the condition of public schools in Mumbai, how parents are toiling hard to put their children in private schools, paying ever-increasing fees and how the education in public schools need an uplifting.
My mother is a teacher in a Hindi medium BMC school (public schools are also called BMC schools in Mumbai. BMC stands for Brinha Mumbai Corporation). She has been in this profession for about 17 years now and is considered a senior teacher in her school. From what she has told me, here are some of the pros and cons of public education.
Pros:
Government IS investing a lot in Public Education both primary and secondary. Few years back, my mother's school got a number computers, selected teachers were trained in computers so that they could teach students in their school,
the school building is regularly painted and taken care of,
there is a yearly FREE full-body check-up for students,
some students who are in absolute financial crisis are given a waiver on their school fees (even this fee is a nominal fee, the education is free) not only that they are also given old text-books, uniforms and books to write in.
In 1996, Fifth Commission was applicable to teachers, this in layman's terms means, three times increase in salary, this has resulted in a lot of good people applying for a teaching position in BMC, it is no longer a second choice. So the quality of teachers is good.
Some patrons adopt these public schools, giving off free text-books, books, pens, uniforms, etc. My mother's school is in the care of one such patron.
Teachers are reponsible for finishing their courses in time, taking attendance, informing parents if their children are absent for more than a pre-decided number of days. Basically, whatever is done in a private school is and has to be done in public schools as well. Belief that BMC teachers enjoy themselves and not do anything is incorrect and one that should be changed for better.
I myself have met some exceptional students from my mother's school. They are brilliant and you will be surprized at the zest of their knowledge. There was one student, who as my mother fondly remembers a humble, no-nonsense guy, hardly spoke anything but did Math problems faster than my mum (she is a math teacher), he used to find mistakes in publication, in teachers but forever in a humble way. His father used to sell vegetables at the roadside and there was hardly any time to study for him, assisting his father and all, still he did and he passed school with flying colours. Another one, passed out in the same year as my brother, even this guy came from a poor background and went on to do his Engineering from vey reputed college in Mumbai. It is a fact that I did not meet as many bright girls as boys from the school. A fact that I dont very much relish but I dont even have an explanation for.
Students getting highest subject marks, or highest among all BMC schools are saluted by the BMC and given gifts and certificates.
There are many primary and secondary BMC schools spread throughout Mumbai, so accessibility is not an issue.
Cons:
Teachers !!!!
There are some teachers who hold the flag for being the notorious of the bunch and giving a bad name to all the others. I know of one of my mother's colleague who takes leaves like its sunday three times a week. Though she gets pay-cut, and other teachers roll their eyes at her and gossip, there is little fear of her losing her job. That is not done (generally) in public schools. If it would have been a private school, the teacher wouldnt have dared to do it. After all why to do it in the first place, in India, is there any dearth of public holidays?
Teaching methods are outdated, very few fresh teachers are imbibed, there are old, senior teachers with big fat ego who are resilient to changes. Teachers have to be quick, not bored, fresh and not stale by their wisdom. I have met some BMC teachers who are out of their league, very good in their subjects, wanting to make a difference, but they are not enough.
Parents!!!
Students come from a very poor family background, most of the times their parents' care a rat's ass of how they are doing in school. Other times, they are ignorant, they think their responsibility is over once they sent their children to school. I think this is where private schools have an edge, the parents there are overtly conscious and meticulous. They are ready from the word "Go".
In one of a few unfortunate incidents that my mother told me was a girl whose pregnancy test came positive in a routine check-up. She was 3 months up and didnt even know about it, her family was ignorant too.
Turn Around Time!!!
Each decision takes a million light years to be implemented. I dont know whats with the Indian Government offices but a single permission has to be taken from at least a zillion people. Like, this ex-student who had lost his school leaving certificate and wanted a fresh copy, he had to stand in line, then wait for the clerk to finish her lunch, then hear her rant about how irresponsible he was for losing it in the first place and then if there was still time before she left, she would do the favour or would snap to come back the next day. My mother says, it is a 10 minute job straight out.
Awareness !!!!
There is a severe lack of what education means and how to use it among lower middle class of Mumbai. Some students get enrolled in school then leave in between to do nothing, then come back again, not do their homework, involve in all kinds of illegal activites like fights, drugs, etc. Though these problems are not restricted to BMC schools, BMCs have to realize they are on a weaker side. To attract students these activites have to be destroyed in their buds.
All I am trying to say in so many words...
Public Education is good in Mumbai and Government is paying attention. I would recommend people who are not able to afford private schools, give public education a fair chance, it might surprize you.
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