One is left wondering at the sheer apathy of the Central and state governments in their treatment of education. And the parents of schoolgoing children whine only when they feel the pinch of a fee hike. Going by my three years' experience of covering parents' protests in Mumbai, these are inevitably centred on fee hikes.That the schools fail to provide proper education is a secondary consideration. Ironically, these same parents do not mind paying fancy amounts for coaching classes!But back to the beginning. Just take a look at the portfolios in the Central government. At cabinet rank, we have an urban development ministry and yet another one for urban employment and poverty alleviation; one tribal affairs ministry and yet another one for rural development. But when it comes to education, there is only one portfolio titled human resource development and science and technology; there's no mention of literacy anywhere! And that at the turn of a millennium amidst promises galore that primary educationwould become a fundamental right.Illiterates still comprises about 52 per cent of the population. While the percentages may come down in the next few years, the total number of illiterates will continue to go up due to the increasing population. Comparatively, there are more illiterate women. Studies have shown that a literate wo-man can ensure a literate and small family. Wo-men's literacy not only enhances the human re- sources of the nation, it also serves to limit the population, benefitting the country.Now look at the way in which state governments treat education. It took the Maharashtra government 13 months to announce revised pay scales for degree college and university teachers at a time when the Central government is paying 80 per cent of the total hike. Ironically, while the earlier Sena-BJP government dithered, the announcement of a hike in wages came swiftly from the current coalition government whose constituent parties do not otherwise see eye to eye with the BJP-led National DemocraticAlliance at the Centre.That apart, it is amazing how despite the government nurturing primary education centres (which means education is available free), there are still so many dropouts every year. As a wag explained, the reason is that these centres are being manned by the ``government''. Even in private schools, teachers are rarely inspiring. Veteran educationist Yash Pal, during a recent workshop, bemoaned that students just do not ask questions. Why? I feel it is because teachers discourage them from doing so. Teachers are only interested in covering the voluminous syllabus which leaves them little time for creative interaction with students. Hence, they skirt the challenge of covering the syllabus and still being able to bring out the curiosity of a child, which is so important for effective education.As a principal said at the same workshop, how interestingly a subject is taught depends on the teacher. The subject must first be made relevant by motivating the children. A history class couldstart with the history of one's own school. Similarly, a geography class could study a nearby river or nullah. Sadly, even in the uncommon cases of teachers who would like to implement innovative teaching methods, parents often interfere, fearing their wards will lose the all-important marks in the examinations if they do not mug up their work as per the given syllabus.A couple of teachers from Germany told me how their government literally pampers them by lavishing them with high salaries and providing other facilities. This is why the better students are drawn to the pedagogic profession, which in India usually attracts average students.As a result of the cavalier treatment meted out to education at all levels, what kind of leadership are we landed with? In all elections it is population density that counts, and not the level of literacy. Which is why Bimaru states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar account for 25 per cent of our members of Parliament!
