In the last few years, the Delhi Government lead by Mr.
Arvind Kejriwal has remained in news for the supposed ‘revolution’ it brought
about in the education system, particularly in the Government schools in the
State. Last year, the government allocated 26% of its budget for the education
sector which far more than the education budget in other states of India.
The reality, however, is that the Delhi Government can afford
to allocate such a big chunk of its budget for education is because by virtue
of being the national capital, the government has more funds and limited areas
for expenditure. The per capita income in Delhi is ₹3,65,529 which is thrice
the national average of ₹1,25,397. Also, revenue surplus of Delhi was ₹4,913
crores, in contrast to most other states which are under huge amounts of debt
because their expenditure is far more than their income. Moreover, Aam Aadmi
Party’s claim that it is for the very first time that a Government has
allocated such an amount for education is false. In the past, states like Bihar
and Meghalaya, amongst others, have also allocated 25% - 30% of their budget
for education. Since 2000, Delhi Government has always allocated more than 15%
of its budget for education. In 2012-13, the per student expenditure was ₹29,641,
which has increased to ₹61,622 in 2017-18. Despite this, its share in GSDP is
still less than 2%. This means that even though the budget allocation for
education has increased, its share in the GSDP has remained the same.
Even though the allocation is high, the actual expenditure is
very low. In 2014-15, 62% of the allocated budget was spent, in 2015-16, 57%
and in 2016-17, this figure was 79%. The AAP Government claims to allocate
25-26% of its budget for education but this figure is always reduced in the
revised budget.
See the status of Budget allocated in the last financial year 2018-19
The truth behind the ‘revolution’ in the education sector of Delhi
In their election manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections,
the AAP claimed that the Delhi Government has brought about some revolutionary
changes in the schooling system of Delhi. However, the reality is that the
number of enrollments are decreasing in government schools and there is no
visible impact of the same on annual results.
Enrollments –
The number of enrollments are decreasing with every passing
year. In between 2013-14 and 2017-18, 1,32,138 students have decreased in total number of enrollment in each session, which is
nearly 8%.
In the 2014-15 batch of 7th standard, 97% of the enrolled students were promoted to the 8th standard in 2015-16. However, when these students were promoted to 10th standard in 2017-18, their percentage had dropped down to 55%. The inference that can be drawn here is that in 9th standard, nearly half of the enrolled students failed and in 11th standard, nearly 33% of them failed. Resultantly, the government projected a good result and took credit for this so called ‘revolution’ without revealing the above stated facts.
Here, the most important factor is that the population of Delhi is increasing and enrollment in government schools is decreasing instead of increasing.
Here, two things that deserve consideration are:
1. Delhi
Government is trying to deprive students of education in government schools in
large numbers, and
2. The students
who fail are not being allowed to enroll themselves again in government
schools.
Only in 2018-19, of students who failed between 9th and 12th
standard, 66% were not allowed to enroll
again. In 9th, 52%; in 11th, 58% and in 12th, 91% of students who failed were
denied re-admissions. See information collected by Adv Ashok Aggrawal
Learning Outcome –
The level of education in Delhi, is far less than the
national average.
Also, the government took a challenge and students who failed
9th standard were allowed to pursue 10th standard through correspondence. An
abysmally low percentage of 2% only could pass from this group of students in
2016-17. Only 2% of students who dropped
out from government schools in 2017-18 took re-admission. On the basis of data available for the last
five years, the passing percentage for students who took a correspondence
course is only 4%. (Ref: Praja Foundation report)
The passing percentage for 10th standard in 2017-18 has
dropped down to 68.90% from 92.44% in 2016-17. The AAP argued that the reason
for this drop was problem in implementing the CBSE syllabus but the fact of the
matter is that has been dropping constantly. This is why a large number of
students are being deliberately failed in 9th and 11th so as to project a
positive result on 10th and 12th standards. Moreover, the students to fail 10th
and 12th standards are denied re – admissions.
Last year, the government denied responsibility for a poor
result in 10th standard but took full credit for a miniscule improvement in the
the result for 12th grade. The entire strategy was exposed by The Print in a
report.
We can also see a very disturbing trend in a number of appeared students for the 12th Exam each year since AAP came in power-
Even this year, only 1,22,428 students were appeared in 12th exam, while 171613 students were enrolled in class 11th in 2017-18. No one knows where's rest 29% students.
Science taught only in 28% of schools –
As per a reply received to an RTI, only 28% of government
schools in Delhi teach Science. At a time when the need of advancement in
science and technology is being felt across the world, schools in Delhi are not
even teaching the basic fundamentals of the field.
Unavailability of teachers –
As per report of Times of India, there were vacancies for
33,783 teachers corresponding to nine subjects of which only 19,243 permanent
appointments were made, 8,713 appointments were made as temporary guest
teachers and 17% of the vacancies are still vacant. In a press conference held on 6th March,
2019, Education Minister of Delhi, Mr. Manish Sisodia informed that in Delhi,
out of 64,000 available vacancies for teachers, 58,000 appointments were made
out of which 22,000 were as guest teachers. Even Delhi cabinet has also approved a policy to allow them to work till the age of 60- like regular teachers.
The interesting thing to note here is that 77% of these guest
teachers were unable to get minimum pass marks in the examination against vacancies in Delhi Govt Schools.
According to the information sought under the Right to
Information (RTI) Act, there are 918 posts of principals in 1,024 Delhi
government schools. Some 106 schools don''t have such posts. Out of 918 posts
of principals, 595 are lying vacant, the reply revealed.
It said 768 vice principals are holding the charge of the
head of the school "due to principals not physically working or some
schools have(ing) no post of principal".
Infrastructure –
At the time of assembly elections, AAP promised to open 500
new schools but even after 4.5 years, there is no sign of even 5% of this
number even though the government has 82 vacant plots.
As per the reply to an RTI, only 23 new schools have been
opened up in Delhi. In contrast, in one year itself, in 2013-14, 12 schools
were opened up in Delhi. Out of the 23 new schools which the AAP claims to have
opened up, according to a statement issued by former education minister
Arvinder Singh Lovely, 10 were opened up at the time of the previous government
lead by the INC.
In the manifesto for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, AAP has
claimed that in order to improve education system, infrastructure is needed but
for any effective development in that area, Delhi needs complete statehood.
But, full statehood is just an excuse. In 2015, AAP claimed that there are
24,157 classrooms in Delhi schools and the Delhi government made 8,213 new
classrooms despite all hurdles. Now, when the Delhi Government is able to
improve infrastructure as claimed by them, why are they giving and excuse of full
statehood to Delhi?
The Delhi government has spent 250 crores only on 52 selected
model schools, ignoring the remaining majority. The system in these model
schools is also ripe with corruption. The government is claiming credit by
projecting the good optics of only a handful of schools picked after ignoring
thousands others.
Below are the estimates of the Economic Survey pertaining to
infrastructural development in schools of Delhi -
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