PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND GOVERNAMENTAL SCHOOLS

In recent years, India's economical growth improved continuously,

ameliorating the society livelihood and lifestyle. But, what about the

education system? The governmental efforts in order to improve and

increase literacy in the last century, since the independence, allowed

to the population to engage in schools and universities as never

before. But, there is still a gap between the private and the

governmental schools.

From an administrational point of view, we just can say that an

obstacle to a successful management of a governmental school is the

paperwork and the bureaucracy that involves all steps of work.

One of the main differences between these two kinds of schools is the

infrastructure issue. The construction of a public school is often new

and well maintained; while for the governmental the situation may be

more critical. May happens that in this type of schools there is a lack of

electricity, water, sanitation items and facilities. The electricity issue

represent a problem because is involved with the possibility to have

water in bathrooms, light in classrooms, air vents or any electronic

item (that may be very helpful in order to improve student's

knowledge). This substantial difference is more evident in village area,

and may be directly connected with the nature of both kind of schools;

in fact, in a governmental schools there's no need to pay fees or taxes

to attend, schools uniforms and materials (books, exercises book and

pens) are freely provided by the government. This allow to the

poorest people to send their children to school, avoiding them child

labour.

This may be seen as a great step forward, but at the same time is

necessary to underline the different chances that have students

coming from these two kinds of schools. In fact, because of big sums of

money invested in private schools, students not only live in a more

positively competitive environment, but also have the chance to join

different extracurricular activities that make their future Curriculum

more appealing. By contrast, in governmental schools the extra

activities are more related with more material and practical activities

that aims to improve student's livelihood, such as hand washing

activities. Often, these activities aimed to improve hygienic conditions

are conducted by local NGO, such as HEEALS NGO. In recent Years,

HEEALS managed to increase the livelihood of many schools,

providing RO water filter, facilities and realising educative workshops

about hygiene and sanitation. These practical activities have a

fundamental and positive implication in their daily life, but from an

academic point of view there is a gap.

Another big issue related to the distinction between private and a

governmental school is linked to the ratio of teacher to student.

In governmental schools this ratio is often too small, there are too

many children for few teachers; this mean that classrooms are more

crowded and the quality of teaching may have negative implications

that effects student's knowledge and teacher's work quality. It's easy

to imagine how much strong should be a teacher who teaches is such a

difficult environment, playing a role that is wider that one person can

imagine.

On concluding, it is important to underline that children shouldn’t pay

the bill for economical and financial choices, the main purpose of

education is the intellectual and human growth of students.

- Grandoni Laura