Page 73 - EW August 2025

Showcase Delhi state government schools: showcase & others gap

tional agenda, in a cover story titled in the media for their transformation
“Many Hurdles of India’s Most Pub- into high-performance institutions.
lic Education-Friendly Party” (June In the annual EducationWorld India
2019), EW wrote: “During the past School Rankings, Delhi government’s
four years, Delhi’s AAP government Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya, Sec-
has emerged as the only adminis- tor 10, Dwarka, was ranked India’s #1
tration countrywide that has given government day school for three years
primary-secondary education reform (2021-23) consecutively, indicating
high and arguably top priority. It has favorable public perception of AAP’s
consistently increased the state gov- much-publicised education reforms.
ernment’s annual outlay for education Arvind Kejriwal (right) & Manish Sisodia However, the stunning defeat of
from 23.8 percent of the total budget AAP in the assembly election of 2025
in 2015-16, to 26 percent (Rs.15,601 crore) in 2019-20. The when its seats tally aggregated a mere 22, and the party’s top
educationally backward states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and leaders including Arvind Kejriwal, education minister
Rajasthan allocate a mere 16.1 percent of their total state Manish Sisodia lost their seats, has prompted psepholo-
budget for education. Even the educationally advanced gists to conclude that the Delhi electorate had become disil-
state of Karnataka allocated a mere 10.9 percent (Rs.23,760 lusioned with the AAP government’s much proclaimed K-12
crore) for education. Consequently, the AAP government’s education reform and upgradation initiatives. Now a decade
education outlay per child is Rs.51,745 (cf. the national av- after the first AAP government of Delhi state was elected,
erage of Rs.13,974).” there’s emerging evidence that its much-proclaimed K-12
Evidently Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party’s leader- education reforms were more form than substance.
ship’s focus on public education resonated with the elec- Beneath visible changes and soaring aspirations, Delhi’s
torate. In the Delhi state legislative election of 2020, AAP public schools continue to struggle with the fundamentals.
was re-elected with a massive majority winning 62 seats For all the new investment and innovation claimed by
in the 70-strong assembly. With AAP’s public image at its AAP, the core promise — that every child would improve
zenith, Delhi’s government schools also won encomiums her reading, writing, and numeracy skills — has proved

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