Doing things differently – for a reason
Jane Sahi From last month our school (Sita School) has become strictly illegal and technically we are liable for prosecution. Looking back at Education and Language Policies, for example, from the time of Macaulay’s infamous Minute of 1835 there is nothing sacrosanct in such policies which are often shaped by political and economic forces but nevertheless it is hard to feel both accountable in the public sphere and yet not allowed some space for difference. Efforts to have a different kind of recognition – e.g., to strengthen the Basic Education National Open School, have so far not been acceptable despite a number of meetings and petitions to the Ministry of Education. There are certain contradictions: for example, where Sevagram in Wardha has been awarded heritage status and been publicly lauded as a new model, they still face difficulties to get recognition. There are various options for Alternative Schools. Some are survival strategies like registering children in government schools but actually teaching them outside the regular system. Other responses require a re-orientation like starting Learning Centres outside school hours or concentrating only on children above 14 years. Judging by the present trend even these spaces may be closed in the foreseeable future as there are rumours of the government controlling coaching and tuition centres, nursery schools and schooling up to 16 years. The other option is to “lie low” and hope that officialdom is slow in following up illegal schools. None of the above is very satisfactory and many involved in alternative schools would prefer transparency. The RTE Act no doubt was rooted in a genuine concern to create a more equitable and just society, but in the process it has been co-opted often by market forces and a corrupt bureaucracy. Hesitation to go in for registration and recognition This is problematic on several counts: It is a long and laborious process which in itself is not the problem but it involves either corruption – I heard recently of a school where the BDO asked for Rs 25,000 for a site visit which is just one of the necessary steps to ensure registration – or the alternative of using ‘influence’ and to gain the support of highly placed people in the government. I was told that one person, who was highly educated, had no choice but to devote almost the whole year to securing this and even she was helped by a number of people. On the other hand, there are innumerable private schools being started