A PROMISE IN FRIENDSHIP

A PROMISE IN FRIENDSHIP

For the Fortune brought together 

the three lives

who Promised to Never Untie!

It took them little time and effort; 

to bond strongly 

as creatures in comfort.

With intrigue and intensity,

they crawled the new world;

Beyond the doors where 

the friendship was being adored.

Breathing the air, 

Knowing the hearts care,

Each body and soul bared;

Often doing more than 

they always dared.

Slowing, Bowing,

Rising and Turning 

Beheld the Promise to

Never Untie.

Together they walked,

Together they talked 

for a moment in Time.

On spur of moment 

cold winds blew;

Ushering the dark and

 a plain blue.

They laid back and let it flow out,

The topic of trust 

never once had a doubt;

For within their minds and 

hearts as well

was a Promise 

To Never Untie and Dwell!

अधूरी आस

  अधूरी आस 

ज़िंदगी उलझनों की लहरें ले आती है , 

उस वक्त की घड़ी मानो थम सी जाती है । 

ना रुक सकता है राही ना चलने की हिम्मत जुट पाती है,  

सुकून की ज़िन्दगी सपनो में बंधी रह जाती है । 

उम्र का थमना मुम्किन नहीं हो पाता ,

चैन की नींद उलझनों में खो आता, 

'कैसी दौड़ है ये ज़िन्दगी और उम्र की ?'

राही बस ये ही सोचता रह जाता । 

उलझने सुलझाने मे अक्सर रिश्तों की माला टूट जाती है ,

विश्वास की डोर में गाँठ पड जाती है । 

समझ नहीं आता ज़िन्दगी ये कैसी लहरे ले आती है? 

थक जाता है, टूट जाता है 

राही ज़ख्मों के दर्द को 

मुस्कुराहट के पीछे छुपाता है।

'काश मैं फिरसे बच्चा बन जाता,

काश मैं फिर से बच्चा बन जाता '

अपना बचपन याद कर, 

बात वह ये ही दोहराता है ।

जीने की चाह बहुत उकसाती है,

हर बार दिल को तसली दी जाती है- 

'वक्त बदलेगा'

 इस आस में,
उम्र ही बीत जाती है । 

Choosing the Choice: A school choice debate

Choosing the Choice:

A school choice debate

Welcome to the Education Landscape

We are currently in the middle of a significant debate about whether education should be largely a public enterprise, operated by government, or a private enterprise, organized outside of government auspices. One side argues that privatization will result in higher quality for students and higher levels of school effectiveness by changing the structure of school governance (Chubb& Moe, 1998, 1990). The other discusses the effects of market inequalities arguing that markets will provide the possibility for the pursuit of class advantage and generate a differentiated and stratified system of schooling (Ball, 1993).

  

  As part of the drive towards universal basic education for all ,India has seen an explosion in low-fee private schooling aimed at the poorer strata of society  with implications for equity due to the level of direct costs involved. However this development has largely ignored the quality of provision resulting in many parents shunning the government schooling sector.  

This shift in the education landscape has serious implications for equity in access to educational opportunities and it is the very question of whether or not access to these schools is equitable that determines whether these same schools can be considered ‘pro-poor’. It has been asserted that Low Fee Private schools are the solution to the quest by poor parents to provide a quality education for their children (Tooley, 2001; Tooley and Dixon, 2006) and that such schools should be encouraged and supported. 

 Field studies show that, under prevailing conditions, parents prefer the private alternative (Srivastava, 2006; Tooley, 2001), and that large numbers of parents are paying for Low-Fee Private schooling( field study going on in karkardooma supports this statement to an extent ).

     Central to the private schooling debate is the concept of choice, which  is argued to result in higher quality and lower cost through market competition (Tooley and Dixon, 2006), but bound up in this idea are concepts of affordability and social equity where fees are charged. 

Education- A phenomenon of Affordability

 Private provision of education can take many forms, and may be conducted by a wide variety of actors, which may include ‘NGOs, faith-based organisations, communities and commercially oriented private entrepreneurs , each with different motives for their involvement in education’ . Private education system is seen as efficient in comparison to public education.. 

    The advent of private schools usually means choice between schools and between schools of different sectors, public and private. Choice, or a market of suppliers is purported to lead to better service provision at lower cost. Tooley (2001, 2004) and Dixon (Tooley and Dixon, 2006) asserted that private schools have great potential and are currently serving the needs of the poor. Their work was undertaken in urban areas of several countries, including India (Tooley and Dixon, 2006). Considerable data was collected on the prevalence of private schools both recognised and, crucially, unrecognised; also children’s attainment was measured and families were interviewed (Tooley and Dixon, 2006) .

Tooley believed this bargain-based education offers the best hope for the future of the developing world. He asserted that aid agencies should switch funds to supporting such schools rather than subsidising state systems which, despite the large amount of money invested into them, still fail.
   
   Critics argue that education should be a right, not a commodity for which parents pay. The biggest educational gains in Africa and Asia were because of free public education; the solution to the problem is in making it better, not in propping up a private sector that can never guarantee universal coverage, equity or consistent standards and usually excludes those in the most extreme poverty.

 Sarangapani and Winch in response to  Tooley posed a question that if the low budget private schooling is   beneficial then who is it beneficial for? If it is beneficial for poor then is it beneficial for the interested parties too? This question probes the attention to the market principles being adopted by private schools along with the idea of low fee charges for providing education.

Choice represents Neo Liberal idea where parents have freedom to choose and think for himself/herself.  But the problem with this view is it is conditioned to the fact that it sees education as a commodity, which can be bought and sold in market to whoever pays the price. 
   
According to Sarangapani and Winch ‘Education is a preparation of young for adult life as a member of human community interacting for good and ill with other members of that community.‘ it cannot be defined in terms of commodity, profit or loss. 
     Tooley’s reply to this was that the study in Hyderabad shows that there are private schools available in a large number which provide poor parents with choice and provide quality education in low cost. A phenomenon of rapid expansion of low budget private schools can be seen in Hyderabad so the question of availability is a moot point. Not just in Hyderabad the same phenomenon can be seen in other parts of india too. 
    Nambissan (2003,p. 52) cited that ‘mushrooming of privately managed unregulated pre-primary and primary schools’ for the poor in Calcutta.’ And for the question of accessibility she says that the government is providing poor people with vouchers and even the poorest can afford subsidies which makes it accessible for the poor. He claims that the low budget private schooling is beneficial for poor then he poses a question that ‘when the government schooling is available free of charge then why do parents send their children to private unaided schools?’
   Tooley claimed that Private schooling in India is demand-driven. Parents choose private education because they believe they provide better education and future opportunities for their children than the government schools ; private schools exist because parents demand them. Certain cultural factors affect private enrollment. 

   Hyderabad illustrates how English language instruction drives private schooling. Parents see language as a means of mobility it can be seen how proficiency in  English language has become an important factor in getting jobs and it has also become a symbol of status in Indian context.

Private sector is often seen as it works on profit principles only . Tooley argued that private schools are much more accountable than the public schools because they charge fee therefore there is a pressure of performance on the private schools and outcomes are desirable in these schools. Because of the fee factor the schools has to maintain certain standards in form of good infrastructure, skilled teachers, learning outcomes. And these schools don’t charge high fee so there is not much margin for profit because the cost of maintenance is high. 
     
   On this G. Nambissan commented that these schools are not charging high fee so their budget is also limited. This brings one’s attention to the salary and skills of the teachers employed in the private schools in comparison to teachers in public school.

   Apart from this competition amongst private school is an important dynamic of this discourse. Tooley asserted that because of the market based policy the schools are much more efficient than the public schools. Because of the pressing need to remain in the market schools constantly have to innovate and have to be accountable to the ‘costumers’. Low fee private schools also have a better governance system because of the competition. 
Tooley claimed that the low budget private schools provide equity in access to the poor. But the question comes here that when we talk about equity is it (low budget private schools) accommodating people from different classes or is it just addressing the needs and aspirations of one class? It can be seen that the elite private schools are still closed for the poor. And different types of school systems are reproducing class.

   Sociologists like Nambissan,  Sarangpani and Ball have different opinion about the low fee private schools. . According to them Tooley has shown the poor people a fairy tale of the low budget school and have overlook the condition of public school system. Yet they agree that public schooling in India do need serious attention. In order to make it functional and efficient rather than starting up a parallel system it is important to address the problems and issues in the public education system.
   
   According to Stephen Ball, education system has been dismembered in pursuit of choice. Gradually but purposefully first New Labour and now the coalition government have been unpicking and disarticulating the national system of state schooling. Local democratic oversight has been almost totally displaced. Our relationship to schools is being modelled on that of the privatised utilities. These changes have been pursued in the name of choice, diversity and autonomy.
Ball asserted that there is no room in this for parents who just want to send their child to a good local state school – the one they attended, and friends, neighbours and relatives attend, that is a real part of their community and history. Rather, this new education system is a market in which competitive individuals can seek to avoid others who are "not like us". The result, as in other choice-based systems (Chile, New Orleans, Sweden etc), is increased inequality and social segregation.

In all the current political rhetoric around education, choice has almost totally displaced democracy as a positive social value. Parents can choose the school they want, or not, but communities cannot – unless they open their "own" free school. . This is about networks and advocacy among communities, parents and students having a say in deciding what, how, and by whom they are taught – and whether, how, and when they are tested, among other things.

   With this we highlight that the school choice debate revolves around three 3 concepts – School , Choice , Quality and Inequality. 

Choosing the Choice

In this debate those who are in favour of low fee charging private schools are the one who see parents as ‘active choosers’ who are aware of their needs and choose the best out of all available options. According to them the low fee charging private schools provide poor parents with options to choose from. But the question which needs to be asked here is that do poor parents really have options? 

State maintains the monopoly over curriculum and policy and private sector also works on market principles in both cases parents and students as a stake holders does not have any voice in the matter. And another thing which needs to be considered here is that what options are available there for the poor people. Does the elite schools opening their doors for poor students? Or another system is being created to cater a      particular class? And what is its relationship with reproduction of inequality? 

  Quality is a major issue in this whole discourse. According to Tooley low budget private schools are better in quality in terms of facilities and outcomes. But an important thing should be kept in mind here which is when we talk about quality what are the parameters which define quality? Is it qualitative or are we only talking in quantitative terms. Facilities and efficiency are important but is this education going to help in development of the child and nation? Is a question worth asking. Quality education can’t be limited to outcomes and grades only. Outcome and achievement approach is based on human capital theory. It’s a narrow approach. Learning can’t be defined in terms of outcomes only it has to be applicable in one’s life.

Conclusion

    In closure its appropriate to claim that yes low fee private schools provide education for poor but it’s still accommodating a particular group of people. There is still a large number of children who can’t have access to low fee private schools . Reason being the absence of  aid from the state . And therefore these schools open only in places where people can pay even if it is not as high as other private schools. Secondly, because of this limited reach these schools can’t cater the poorest. Therefore the public school system is very significant in education because it’s free of cost and it is accessible for a majority of people. Therefore, rather than creating a parallel system or handing over the education system to private sector , it is important to pay attention to the public education system and  improving them 

REFERENCES

• ·     Nambisaan G.(2012),Private school for the poor :business as usual? Economics and Political Weekly. XLVII (41).pp51-58.
• ·     Nambisaan,G.(2011), Poverty, Markets and Elementary Education in India.
• ·     Ball, S.J.(1993). Education market choices and social class. The market as a class strategy in U.K and the U.S.A. Journal of sociology of education.14(1).pp 3-19
• ·     Shrivastava, P.(2006).School choice in India: disadvantage groups and low fee private school.
• ·    Tooley ,J.(2007).Could for profit private education benefit the poor? Some a priori consideration arising from case study research in India. Journal of education policy.22(3). Pp 321-342
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No Sex, No Gender!

No Sex, No Gender!

Constant emphasis since ages has been on women as someone else's property. Attacking her individuality with the societal expectations has been an old phenomenon.

Being born as a girl chains one with limitless stereotypes, prejudices, notions, values and expectations.

The biggest of the stereotype is-women are weak.

They can't be left alone, they require constant security, they are beings who are scared to be alone in any place.

Those who think so, must bang their brains with bars. Seriously! You people gotta work with your notions and thoughts which has nothing to do with education but common sense. And I guess we all are blessed with common senses. Problem is in not using it rightly.

NO SEX, NO GENDER !
Let the base of Identification be Individuality!

I am a girl!

Who do I look like? must have been the first thought in your brains. You gotta chuck that thought out because that's where you started wrong. You are setting up a judgement factor.

I am Single!

The fact that one is single doesn't give you a platform to ask her out.

Shut the bells in your head that ring every time you are introduced to a single being.

I am Independent!

Being independent doesn't mean one is alone. It simply means that the one is courageous and strong enough to look after herself and her significant other's needs.

Her independent nature doesn't give you the license to use her and throw. Better would be if you keep your thoughts full of shit to yourself.

I am Open minded. 

I guess this usually narrows the brains of many. And this can only be expressed and illustrated well by the fellas who constantly struggle to make an entry in the fields of films, media, law etc.

Have a word and they will break their silences on the hidden reality.

I am not educated. 

Yes, because I am a girl. My parents are not rich . They can only spend money on my marriage. Marriage will only happen when my parents will be able to give the demanded dowry to the groom and his family. I am a burden. We don't have money to spend on education.

I have to get married to the one whom I don't know at all. I have to keep the promise of being a good daughter in law, wife and a mother. I have to adjust and compromise because that's all we are expected and taught to do. That's the common curriculum we all are taught in the institutions of society.

I am weak !

Weakness has been always misunderstood by our companions. Blessing to give birth doesn't make the being weak. Understand it's the task of the emotionally , mentally and physically strong species. No, I don't mean men have less of strength.

The intention here is just to eradicate the notion that women are physically weak and need constant support.

They are the warriors of their own life. The only thing is that their battles are different from those of men.

Let them use their own strategies to be victorious. Let them set their platform and create their own agency.

Don't substitute their voice with the voices of men. Don't let the strength of others take over their strength and individuality.

Providing a separate compartment for women in public transport is no way of protecting them. Protection is when you provide a guard while they use their voice and agency to fight their own battle. Don't make them paralysis victim.

Be liberal.

Liberty is not in creating different worlds for species of different kinds.

We are not different.

We are not women and you are not men.

We are individuals with different qualities and traits born to support and become a whole.

It's in the chances of identification that we develop strength.

Let the base of identification be individuality and not gender.

  Road To Success 

                                    

                                                         

           

                                                                                                                                                       

The road to success is not straight

There is a curve called Failure,

a loop called confusion,

speed bumps called system,

red lights called rules,

and caution lights called values

But if you have a spare called Dream,

an engine called Perseverance,

insurance called Faith,

and a driver called Determination

you will make it to a place called Success!!

Words in Silence :An ode to the ones who stayed strong!

Words in Silence :An ode to the ones who stayed strong!

Last 4 months and year before had been a time where I saw my own growth as an individual. I played and am still playing the role of a sister, a daughter, a teacher, a colleague and a friend. Amidst of the responsibilities that these roles came up with, I realized that I am a healer too. It's not always about healing "Me & Myself" but also about "Them & Us". We often forget the latter ones. "I" always remains the priority. And it is in this "I" that we are Drowning in. Nonetheless there is hardly any realization among us about it.

Underneath, is an attempt to break the shell of indifference and be sympathetic to those who remain silent about their hardships, struggles and sacrifices. 

Retaining the experiences of violence 

lost in the darkness of silence,

they live...

World throws in the words

and try to rebuild.

It does no wonders, 

relatively run down the filled.

Retaining the experiences of violence

lost in the darkness of silence 

they live...

World holds to captivate,

ride them away from the state.

Yet , the cage doesn't break.

Retaining the experiences of violence

Lost in the darkness of silence,

they live...