Decentralization of School Education

It seems to have become an article of faith that many of the problems besetting our school system can be solved by decentralising and handing over the charge of schools to local communities like village panchayats.  It may be so but there may be pitfalls of which we must be aware.

The aim of education, in my view, is to make us better human beings.  To this end, it must help us shed our prejudices and superstitions.  It must promote equity and a modern viewpoint.  Above all, it must make us think rationally.  If we acknowledge these as the aims of education, then we must think seriously whether our village communities can promote this kind of education.  These communities are highly feudal and backward-looking.  Reports of persecution of young people at the hands of these communities in the name of preserving the honour and traditions of the community are disturbing.  There are also reports of rural schools in many states practising gender inequality and untouchability and other caste and religious prejudices openly or surreptitiously.   Unfortunately, our politicians, who can see nothing beyond votes, also pander to these communities.  Failure to eradicate child marriage and the practice of sati are cases in point.  In the light of these, do we trust that the education of children will be safe in the hands of village communities?  How can we ensure that children in schools under the control of these communities will not be taught obscurantist and obsolete values?  Until we have assurance on these points, I for one would like education to remain in the hands of authorities (District, State, or Central) who can ensure education that is liberal, enlightening and egalitarian.  To fight absenteeism and other afflictions of the school system, the administration will have to find other means.

Lest I be misunderstood, let me make my stand clear on decentralization of education.  I am not against decentralization per se.  All I want is that the control of education should be in the hands of people who can ensure liberal education for our children so that they can get rid of their prejudices and superstitions.  If village level communities can do it, it is fine with me.  But the events of the recent times, honour killings, throwing away midday meals prepared by Dalits, separate seating arrangements in schools based on caste and gender,  and several others of this kind, do not give much hope.  So, there is a need to think of alternatives. 

It is true that many district level officers of the Education Departments may be corrupt and they may not listen to the complaints of parents against the wrong-doings of teachers in their children’s school.  But, I am sure that if Civil Society put pressure on them, they would have to yield.  But will the pressure of Civil Society work on village communities bent on teaching obscurantist values?  If you go by reports appearing in the media, there is plenty of doubt if the pressure of Civil Society will work on them.  A district level education officer, however corrupt, is bound by the rules of the government, which, at least on paper, are secular and forward-looking.  For example, a government officer cannot sanction separate seating arrangement for children on the basis of caste, religion or gender.