The number of primary schools in Marathi have had to shut down for the last several years after the government adopted a series of flawed policies. The new National Education Policy clearly states that the medium of education should be in mother tongue and yet, the authorities have conveniently turned a blind eye towards such a crucial factor. In the meantime, the government gave permission to English primary schools at once and even started subsidies for the same. This transformed primary schools into English medium overnight which were run in vernacular languages up until that point. The reason stated for merger is lack of students in these schools. Majority of high schools received buses under Bal Rath scheme and the English primary schools are affiliated to these high schools. It’s a fact that the Bal Rath buses run around collecting English primary students which is why there is a certain disinterest towards other government-run primary institutions.
Under the pretext of merging two primary schools the government has shut down schools at one place. The government was under the misguided impression that closing down one government school would direct students to go to another government school. However, those students preferred private and local English medium schools which proves that the purpose of unification is already defeated. However, the Education Department is still adamant on carrying forward a failed experiment that fell flat on its face in the previous episode. The decision was revealed to schools through meetings held by respective ADEIs of each taluka on Sunday over Google Meet. The government unsuccessfully made an attempt to cover their haste. However, the intentions were made obvious. Through a circular the authorities informed the schools and recommended them to notify parents of the students for their inputs. The agitation expressed against the decision by parents is the only feedback the government has received so far. The time has come to show mirror to the government as this decision will most probably jeopardise the future generations.
The government is quick to point out less number of students in the schools but have never made any efforts to conduct root cause analysis. Nonetheless, all is not lost. If the quality of the government schools improve then there is no reason for parents to not admit their children in these institutions. If one were to look at people’s preference for the Marathi medium schools then it is no secret that a large number of natives still love the language. The Government must understand the pulse of the public and take steps accordingly. Instead, the Education Department is not only ignoring the locals’ demand but is also intruding in other department’s operations. A circular was issued where higher secondary schools were requested to take on one Anganwadi from the nearby vicinity. At the ongoing direction, there is scope to suspect that the government aims to entirely privatise the education sector. In fact, pre-schools such as Anganwadis or Balwadis have nothing to do with education but are part of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme that aims at improving child nutrition and health standards. Executing and maintaining this programme, which is for children aged under 6 and their mothers, is obligatory for the State government and they must not run away from it.
Another paramount question is whether the Directorate of Education took the Women and Child Welfare Department into confidence before issuing the circular. ICDS provides compiled services of nutritional meals, immunisation and pre-school learning at one place. The health-related problems faced by a child are not possible to solve without consulting his/her mother and hence, the benefits of the programme are extended to teenage girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The very foundation of a healthy child is strengthened in anganwadis. This work handled by anganwadi workers is downright distinct from the work of higher secondaries. It is not practical to find communication between the two. Making a higher secondary principal to do the work he is not used to is equivalent to keeping him away from his actual duties.
The model of anganwadi was designed to look after the development of young children at low cost and is a fundamental pillar of ICDS. The expanse of aforementioned responsibilities is towering and quite simply, higher secondaries will not be able to shoulder it.
