Fresh concern over primary education

But at this crucial level of imparting education to the children, things have been going wrong for a long time. A sense of elitism and alienation has grown in the system. The schools where the right ethos of morality, fellow-feeling, love to environment, loyalty to the country and people are supposed to be instilled have mostly turned commercial. This is not to put all schools in the same bracket -- for, there are certain excellent schools -- but to emphasise the general drift from the time-honoured norms.

There should be orchestrated efforts to promote healthier pursuits in schools such as book reading, debating, sports, music, arts and other forms of constructive peer group engagements.

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Set against this backdrop, the discussion organised by Sushikkha Andolon, an initiative led by some noted civil society figures, on Thursday proved highly rewarding. The speakers gave a call for a social movement to raise the standard of primary education. A strong craving for quality education is in evidence, both in the urban and rural areas. What we have to really provide for is equality of access to quality education. This can only be ensured when the general level of primary schooling adheres to certain uniform standards.

That the Sushikkha Andolon plans a national debate and opinion exchange meeting with the policy-makers this year strikes a responsive chord in us.