Education, we were told, is the backbone of development. It
sounds logical beyond anyone’s doubt. It was the second visit to a school as
volunteers to assist teachers from Teach for India campaign and the development
story of India didn’t look too bright.
A brief conversation with TFI volunteers out there – we felt,
we were lucky enough to be among the better lot who had access to better
education, infrastructure and what not. The students out there in grade V had
comprehension skills of those who are just in Grade II. These kids when they
pass SSC would be just having skills of just a grade VI. We may have Right to
Education and education for all but will this really help? Delivery of quality
education, probably, has taken a back seat. God knows which way we are heading…
We lack teachers - for obvious reasons. The system doesn’t produce
many and neither is it remunerative for someone to choose a teaching career,
unless it’s a tuition academy! The TFI guys are doing a really commendable job.
Something for a social cause, beyond the call of duty, travelling across
country, educating (not just delivering literacy) kids….
Something which was more concerning was the way few teachers
from the school were shifting onus of teaching kids to tuition teachers. “Tuition
padhane walo ko answer likhwana nahi aata” was one of the few comments made by a
teacher. Is education only about kids learning answers by heart to a few
questions – really difficult to understand.
We boast of world class institutions (IIMs, IITs etc) at one
end but when it comes to primary and secondary education we are way behind…way
way behind.
