Preamble:
Long term objective of formation of “Samyak Education Forum” is to improve quality of public education. In our education system, public and private education systems are available. In these two systems, quality of public education is poor. Reasons for poor quality of public education can be attributed to following reasons.
Apathy on part of government:
As per article 45 of Constitution of India, the State shall endeavour to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years. Art. 45 shall stand substituted by the Constitution Eighty-sixth Amendment Act, 2002 in which there is provision for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.
But situation in both urban as well as rural areas is entirely different. In order to reduce expenses on education, more and more permissions are given to private educational institutions. Public education is neglected.
Apathy in implementation:
Though it is clearly stated in the Constitution that education would be free and compulsory till age of fourteen, ground reality is different.
Contrary to the provisions in the Constitution, two tiered education system came into existence. It has resulted in beginning of public and private educational institutes. Children of people who can afford to pay higher fees are getting better education in private institutes. Children of people who cannot afford this, have no other alternative but to send their children in degraded quality public schools.
Millions of children from urban as well as rural areas are deprived of quality education because of different reasons. Because of degraded quality of education, children are unable to read or write properly. This situation leads to unwillingness of parents to send their ward to school. Such drop outs should have been addressed by improved quality of education. Instead of that concept of midday meals has been introduced.
Public level Apathy:
Illiterate and poor households does not have environment conducive for education. In municipal and zilla parishad schools degradation in quality of education is observed. These parents are not in a position to keep track of education of their children in school. Even if they understand, they are not in a position to question school authorities. To improve quality of education imparted, pressure group is not getting developed, resulting into parents sending their children into private schools. This ultimately results in reduced strength of municipal and zilla parishad schools.
In order to address these issues, “Samyak Education Forum” has set following objectives.
- Organization shall operate in authorized educational institutes all over Maharashtra.
- Emphasis shall be on improving quality of public education.
- In order to improve quality of education, all necessary initiatives shall be taken along with educational institutes e.g. Training, Educational experiments.
- Help in this work shall be taken from government authorities, related organizations and institutions.
- All initiatives shall be in accordance with “Child rights” and “Right To Education”.
- Work shall be done to create facilities and infrastructure for educational needs.
- Special efforts shall be taken for education in adivasi, dalit, bhatke-vimukt, women, OBC, physically or mentally challenged and orphans.
- Various educational models shall be developed and these models shall be implemented.
- In order to develop educational models, help shall be taken from experts and resource persons from society.
- Along with education, special efforts shall be taken for capacity building and skill improvements.
- For educational activities, interactions shall be done with government and related organizations.
- Help shall be given or arranged for children in need.
- Documentation shall be done for educational challenges, their possible solutions and educational models.