THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, March 28: The Jharkhand government’s recent criticism of private schools has sparked controversy, with Alok Kumar Dubey, National President of the Private Schools and Children Welfare Association (PASWA), strongly opposing the government’s stance.
Dubey, also State Congress general secretary, argued that it is unfair to generalize about all private institutions based on the fees of just one or two schools. Instead of blaming private schools, the government should focus on improving its own education system, he asserted.
Government Schools Are Failing, But Who’s to Blame?
Dubey pointed out the deteriorating condition of government schools in Jharkhand. In a recent assembly session, Jharkhand’s Education Minister, Ramdas Soren, admitted that 8,000 government schools operate with just one teacher each, despite having 3.81 lakh students enrolled. This raises serious concerns about the quality of education in public schools. Yet, instead of addressing this crisis, the government is shifting the blame onto private schools.
“The discussion in the assembly should be about how to improve government schools, but instead, the government diverts attention by criticizing private schools,” Dubey stated.
Are Private Schools Really Overcharging?
While some private schools may have higher fees, more than 47,000 private schools across Jharkhand provide quality education at extremely low costs. These institutions serve lakhs of Dalit, tribal, and backward-class students, playing a crucial role in the state’s education system.
Many of these schools charge as little as ₹500-600 per month and continue to educate students even when fees remain unpaid for six months to a year. Dubey highlighted how these schools operate with minimal resources but still provide better education than government schools.
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The Real Solution: Lead by Example
If the government truly wants to improve government schools, Dubey proposed a bold solution: Make it mandatory for all MLAs, ministers, government officers, and employees to enroll their children in government schools. He suggested that a condition be added to government service books stating that only employees who educate their children in public schools should be eligible for government jobs.
“This is the only way to increase trust in government schools and drive their improvement,” he emphasized.
Post-COVID Crisis: Private Schools Struggling to Survive
The COVID-19 pandemic has left small private schools in a dire financial situation. Many schools are struggling with low enrollment and unpaid fees, with over half of them offering free admissions just to survive. Despite these hardships, they continue to educate children on humanitarian grounds.
If the government continues to impose unnecessary regulations and fails to support these schools, many may shut down, leading to the collapse of Jharkhand’s education system.
Stop the Blame Game, Focus on Real Solutions
Dubey urged the government to avoid making misleading statements based on the fees of a few schools, as such remarks can demoralize private institutions and harm the education system as a whole. Instead, the focus should be on improving government schools and supporting private institutions that are playing a crucial role in educating the youth of Jharkhand.
“The day is not far when, if the government does not change its approach, countless private schools in Jharkhand will be forced to shut down,” he warned.
