Commercialization and corrupt practices in education..

India's Current Educational System Is A Product Of Centuries-Old Dualities That Characterize The Genius & Decadence Of An Ancient But Wounded Civilization.India Has The World's Oldest & Largest Education System.Its Antiquity & Diversity Are Reflected In The Roots Of Cultural Norms & Institutions That Go Back To A Distant & Venerable Past.

Education Plays A Key Role In Determining How You Spend Your Adult Life- A Higher Level Of Education Means Higher Earnings,Better Health, & A Longer Life.By The Same Token,The Long-Term Social & Financial Costs Of Educational Failure Are High.Those Without The Skills To Participate Socially & Economically Generate Higher Costs For Health,Income Support,Child Welfare & Social Security Systems.

So A Fair & Inclusive System That Makes The Advantages Of Education Available To All Is One Of The Most Powerful Levers To Make Society More Equitable.Education Has Expanded Significantly In The Past-Half Century,But Hopes That This Would Automatically Bring About A Fairer Society Have Been Only Partly Realised.

Legal Context..

Indian Constitution Is Known To Be A Document Committed To Social Justice.

Article 21A Reads That "The State Shall Provide Free & Compulsory Education To All Children Of The Age Of Six To Fourteen Years In Such Manner As The State May,By Law,Determine."

The Judicial Decision From Which Right To Education Emanated As A Fundamental Right Was Mohini Jain V State Of Karnataka & Ors.,1992 AIR 1858.

In This Case The Hon'ble Supreme Court Said-

"The Right To Education Flows From The Right To Life.The Right To Life & Dignity Can't Be Assured Unless It Is Accompanied By The Right To Education..."

Further In The Above Case The Hon'ble Supreme Court Rightly Said As-

""We Hold That Every Citizen Has A Right To Education Under The Constitution.The State Is Under An Obligation To Establish Educational Institutions To Enable The Citizens To Enjoy The Said Right.The State May Discharge Its Obligation Through State Owned Or State-Recognized Educational Institutions.When The State Government Grants Recognition To The Private Educational Institutions It Creates An Agency To Fulfil Its Obligation Under The Constitution.The Students Are Given Admission To The Educational Institutions -Whether State-Owned Or State-Recognized In Recognition Of Their Right To Education Under The Constitution.Charging Capitation Fee In Consideration Of Admission To Educational Institutions,Is A Patent Denial Of A Citizen's Right To Education Under The Constitution."

Capitation Fee Is Nothing But A Price For Selling Education."The Concept Of 'Teaching Shops' Is Contrary To The Constitutional Scheme & Is Wholly Abhorrent To The Indian Culture & Heritage".

The Hon'ble Court Had Further Said That "Restricting Admission To The Candidates Belonging To The Richer Section Of Society & Denying The Same To The Poor Meritorious,Is Wholly Arbitrary,Against The Constitutional Scheme & As Such Cannot Be Legally Permitted."This Is Violative Of Article 14 Of The Constitution.

Equity In Education Has Two Dimensions.The First Is Fairness,Which Basically Means Making Sure That Personal & Social Circumstances- For Example Gender,Socio-Economic Status Or Ethnic Origin- Should Not Be An Obstacle To Achieving Educational Potential.

The Second Is Inclusion,In Other Words Ensuring A Basic Minimum Standard Of Education For All-For Example That Everyone Should Be Able To Read,Write & Do Simple Arithmetic.The Two Dimensions Are Closely Intertwined: Tackling School Failure Helps To Overcome The Effects Of Social Deprivation Which Often Causes School Failure.

Education Is One Such Sector Which Should Not Be Turned Into A Business As The Profit Motive Often Gives Platform For Many Irregularities.

There Are Private Schools That Wish To Receive Public Money.There Has Been Considerable Debate Relative To Private Schools & Their Supporters Reluctance Toward Rules On Non-Discrimination.

We Are Concerned About A Clear Lack Of Equity In Education.We Are Also Dumbfounded By The Lack Of Ethics Of Those Who Seek To Protect Private Schools & The Status Quo At The Cost Of, & Causing Harm To,The Poor,The Disadvantaged & The Disabled.We All Are Responsible For The Education Of All Of Our Children.

Few Points To Be Noted Are :

Why Are We Against Basic Human Rights,& Equal Opportunity,In The Face Of Compelling Evidence Of Inequities?
Who Can Be Against Open Admissions,Fairness In Education & Attributable Administration?
Why Are We Supporting Two Educational Systems,Separate & Unequal?
Why Don't We Condemn The Lack Of Democracy,The Indecency & The Prejudice Of Such Schools & Their Supporters-Who Seek To Legitimize Inequality & Injustice?

If Necessary Action Is Not Taken,Soon We Might See Private Educational Institutions Getting Themselves Listed In The Stock Market & Soliciting Investment In The Education Business.Finally I Would Like To Quote Mahatma Gandhi-

"Education Should Be So Revolutionized As To Answer The Wants Of The Poorest Villager,Instead Of Answering Those Of An Imperial Exploiter."

P.S.-This Should Not Be Looked At Being In Favour Of Or In Opposition To Anyone.This Article Is To Create General Awareness.

#RightToEducation✍✍

#TransformingIndia🙏🙏

Special Thanks to our team member Akshat Shubham for creating this post..