12th Feb 2020 : The Hindu Editorials Notes : Mains Sure Shot
No. 1.
- Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill, 2020, already covered very comprehensively in the article of 31st January.
No. 2.
Question – The Delhi model of education is widely praised across the country. What are the features and should it act as a guiding light for other states to follow?
Context – the Chief Minister of Maharashtra commented that “The transformation in the education system under the Delhi model needs a relook and should be replicated to raise the standard of education in Maharashtra,”
Analysis:
The reforms:
- The Delhi model of education is widely praised for its effective financial management and betterment of education standards.
- At the heart of Delhi’s education model is the school management committees (SMCs). The SMCs are mandated under the Right to Education Act 2009. This committee comprises parents and teachers affiliated to a particular school.
- The members of the SMCs live in the vicinity of the school so they would feel a ‘sense of ownership’ towards this process. SMCs are responsible for monitoring and assisting in matters of the school.
- The government also took several other steps to strengthen the Delhi model of education. It made education free up to Class 12. It also increased scholarships for students who scored above 80 per cent.
- The government also introduced a happiness curriculum and an entrepreneurship mindset curriculum. CCTV cameras were also installed in schools and parents were provided a live feed. The management quota was also scrapped during admissions.
- The government has also made efforts to keep students in classrooms. To check the dropout rate, the government introduced the ‘Chunauti’ scheme in 2016. Under the initiative, students are divided into groups on the basis of whether they can read or write Hindi and English, and solve mathematics.
- Depending on their learning abilities, they are offered ‘special classes’ in the government schools. This scheme has been reformed and has been inspired by Nobel Prize winner Abhijit Banerjee’s model.
- As part of the scheme, students are divided into three groups in Class 6 — Pratibha (for the best students), Nishtha (for the average ones) and Neo Nishtha (for those who barely pass). Even though they sit in the same classroom, the teaching methods vary. Atishi, former adviser to Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia had said that “Some students were so weak that they could not read or write, hence we had to divide them into different groups and teach them at a level that they could understand.”
Outcome:
- In June 2018, Delhi government’s schools had “outperformed” private schools. The pass percentage in government schools was 90.68 per cent, whereas the pass percentage for private schools was 88.35 per cent.
Way ahead:
- The reforms are creative and given the positive outcome, they can be seen as a guide for the other states to follow, though in a modified way according to their needs and requirements.
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