ILLEGAL SCHOOLS IN MUMBAI'S SHANTYTOWNS

A newspaper report highlighted the fact that illegal primary schools, which have not been registered with the education ministry, are springing up with alarming frequency in Mumbai's sprawling shantytowns. Many of these "schools" are makeshift affairs, set up in small dilapidated rooms with almost zero facilities. The 'teachers' too, are mostly unqualified; usually individuals with a smattering of secondary education.

For the benefit of those of you who do not live in India, let me give a brief overview of the primary school system in that country. There are essentially three types of school systems - although the distinction is not recognized at an official level. Bottom of the heap are the free schools operated by the municipal councils of the towns and cities where they are located. They are a far cry from the public schools in advanced countries. The teachers are underpaid and mostly disinterested in their jobs. Not surprisingly, they are not the preferred schools for parents. Next come private schools where the medium of instruction is the regional language of the state (India has 16 official languages). The education is pretty good, but English is taught only as a second language, or not at all. This can be a drawback if one is thinking of going to college; since all colleges in India teach exclusively in English (you can take a second language as an elective subject). Top of the heap are the elite "English" schools (I went to one, which explains why I am such a snob). Most of these institutions are run by Jesuit or Roman Catholic trusts.

While no one condones these fly-by-night "educational" institutions, the real question to be asked is why they are springing up - and why they are flourishing among the economically backward pockets of Mumbai society. I am pretty sure the people responsible for these "schools" do not have altruistic motives of imparting education to underprivileged kids. They are doing it to make money. Indeed, there is an unofficial education mafia running this racket.  Accordingly, while the fees they charge may be small compared to recognized private schools, they certainly do not qualify as negligible.

It is easy for Maharashtra's Education Minister to sermonize about being concerned about "those responsible for polluting the education system". However, the question he should ask himself is why so many people who lead a hand-to-mouth existence, are prepared to part with some of their scarce financial resources, when there are free options available.

I am talking, of course, about the Bombay Municipal Corporation-run municipal schools. It is apparent that the slum-dwellers regard municipal schools as the avenue of last resort for their children. They have zero confidence that their children will learn anything that will help them with future careers. Their misgivings are justified. Apart from classrooms in pathetic conditions, many of the municipal schools have teachers who are lethargic and indifferent, at best, or criminally negligent, at worst.

An item on the Diary page of the same paper reports how schools that have no teachers, no blackboards, tables, chairs, buildings - or, sometimes, even students - continue to be listed and receive government grants. The reason is rampant corruption and collusion among bureaucrats and officials. One grassroots solution to improving the quality of education in municipal schools is to attract a better class of teachers. The obvious method of doing this is to improve salaries. The same government that pleads helplessness due to financial constraints has no qualms about squandering crores of rupees in such illegal activities.

I would suggest that the Education Minister and others of his 'honourable' tribe reserve their holier-than-thou public pronouncements and concentrate on putting their own house in order.