Page 12 - EW April 2023

Education News

DELHI state government has a complex
No let up on education reform relationship with the Union govern-

ment which also has jurisdiction over
Delhi. For instance, maintenance of
law and order in Delhi is a Central
government subject. Therefore,
trounced in two consecutive state
elections, the BJP leadership is mak-
ing life difficult for the AAP state
government on several fronts. In
the confrontation between state and
Centre, principal and teacher recruit-
ments have been stalled and risen to
24,000 in government schools. The
response of AAP has been to recruit
contract teachers whose number rose
to 24,003 last year.
However, the Government School
Teachers’ Association (GSTA), Delhi,
is not impressed. “I can tell you that
no more than 125 out of the 1,047
Manish Sisodia (right) & Atishi Marlena: smooth takeover government schools offer STEM/
science after class X. In other words,
he resignation of manish schools. Therefore, there isn’t any government schools where the chil-
Sisodia, deputy chief minister likelihood of a let up in the AAP dren are from poor families, don’t
Tand education minister of the government’s emphasis on K-12 edu- provide the education the public
Delhi state government, on February cation. Ads on television highlight wants,” says Ajay Veer Yadav,
28 following his arrest by the Central government schools with excellent general secretary, GSTA.
Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in labs, libraries and neat classrooms Nevertheless, there’s widespread
the Delhi Excise Policy (2021-22) with children in smart uniforms — acknowledgement within educators
liquor licensing ‘scam’, is unlikely to unprecedented in Indian history. and society that the Delhi educa-
prove a set-back to the Delhi school The AAP government accords tion model has changed the political
education model that has played a high importance to consistently narrative around education, and
major role in transforming the Aam upgrading its 1,047 state schools. In ignited hope within public schools
Aadmi Party (AAP) into a force to the government’s budget presented countrywide. According to UDISE+,
reckon with in Indian politics. The to the legislative assembly on March an estimated 400,000 children from
first political party in the history of 22, the allocation for education is private — mainly budget private —
post-independence India to make Rs.16,575 crore (21 percent of the schools have “reverse migrated” into
education a major plank in its elec- total budget of Rs.78,800 crore) Delhi state government schools in
tion campaign, AAP, founded by with a marginal increase of Rs.200 the past two years. “My two children
Arvind Kejriwal, a former bureau- crore over the previous year. This go to a government school and I can
crat and RTI activist, and Sisodia in percentage is the highest of any state clearly see their enthusiasm, interest
2013, is the only political formation government countrywide, claim AAP and change. My elder son just fin-
to have trounced the high-riding BJP spokespersons. ished his class X board exam in the
in the Delhi state legislative election The highlight of this year’s educa- science stream. I had never imagined
of 2015 and 2020, and in the Punjab tion budget is that new digital tablets he could even complete class VIII,”
state election of 2022. will be provided to all teachers — says Rampal, a daily wage migrant
Sisodia is succeeded by Ati- regular, guest and contractual, vice worker settled in Delhi.
shi Marlena — an alumna of St. principals and principals. Moreover, Atishi, who will with time emerge
Stephen’s College, Delhi and Oxford the government will provide at least out of Sisodia’s shadow, will be the
University, UK — his former advisor 20 new computers to every school in person to watch as her educational
from July 2015 to April 2018, with a a phased manner. In 2023-24, these background and sharp political acu-
reputation for spearheading AAP’s devices will be made available in 350 men, will add further momentum to
education policy and upgrading of the state’s 1,047 schools. education reforms especially aimed
the profile of Delhi’s government Under the Constitution, the Delhi at restoring trust in government

12 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2023