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Expected Education Sector Reform In Budget 2008

By: EconomyWatch Date: 30 June 2010

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An expected education sector reform in budget 2008 assumes that cost of primary education in the country may increase in the years to come. As a result, an individual entitled to enjoy the fundamental rights pertaining to education may not be able to do so in near future. As compared to primary education, education at the University level is comparatively less because it is subsidized. According to reports contained in “Global Education Digest 2007”, expenditure incurred by household comprises 28% of the total costs (for one quarter or three months).

University education is subsidized but primary education is not: The children belonging to poor household find it difficult to bear these expenses. On the contrary, expenses incurred on University education, approximately 14% of the total costs have to be borne by a household. Usually University education benefits the well off. Moreover the cost of education at the University level is approximately half that of the cost of education at the primary level. Bringing about reforms in the education sector is one of the topics that would be taken for discussion in the forthcoming Budget 2008.

Striking an equilibrium between public and private segments:

It is being ascertained that the expected education sector reform in Budget 2008 may include recommendations pertaining to maintaining an equilibrium between the private education related expenses as well as publicly managed education related expenses.

Disadvantages of privately routed education:

A general trend observed conveys that in those education systems where funding of the educational establishment is done privately, there is a tendency to overlook the needs of the less privileged. This in turn deprives many children who despite having the interest to pursue education is unable to do so due to the high educational cost involved. This is mainly prevalent in the primary level.

It has been observed that there are very few countries where education at the primary as well as at the secondary level is funded by the government. The necessary fund is made available to the various educational institutions, which are run publicly. However, there are few countries, India being one of them where education at the primary level and at the secondary level is catered by the private organizations. Therefore, in such a system the poor are kept outside the purview. Usually, it is the government, which designates the responsibility to the private bodies for imparting education.

Improper distribution of educational resources:

It is likely that another expected education sector reform in Budget 2008, would include the procedure followed in distributing the various resources pertaining to education in India. It has been found that distribution of fund for the same (educational resources) is very irregular especially among the school going children in the country.

They never reach the University gates.......

One common trend followed in the country is children of poor people are unable to get the optimum benefits at the primary school level. At this level, educational resources are improperly disbursed, education at this level is managed by private foundations assigned by the government, this excludes the poor children from availing education. On the other hand, at the University level where educational resources are much more subsidized, the poor people cannot reach up to that level since they are unable to overcome the initial barriers (primary education).

Education around the world:

Studies reveal that United States of America is the only country investing the maximum in matters related to education. It has been ascertained that public education budget of United States of America, if taken into account equals the public education budget of the following nations, if combined together.

Central Asia

Caribbean and Latin America

Arab Regions

Eastern as well as Central Europe

Sub Saharan Africa

West and South Asia