Education in Delhi Schools: Rhetoric vs. Reality Delhi-School-Education-Rep-June-2018 | Page 24

CORRUPTION IN EDUCATION
As there is no accountability for teachers, bureaucrats, and politicians who are
working in a free-wheeling manner to waste huge public money, the education
standard of Delhi schools continues to be in the doldrums.
While the government’s focus is only on construction work, chief minister Arvind
Kejriwal is giving an impression that the swimming pools which he opened recently
will help improve education standards in schools.
Kejriwal inaugurated 2 new swimming pools in 2 different government schools of the
Directorate of Education in Trans Yamuna Area of Delhi. According to an official
statement, both the swimming pools have been constructed by Public Works
Department at a cost of Rs. 2.28 crore each.
The statement added that Kejriwal appreciated the efforts of the teachers and
support staff in improving the standards of education in schools. The Education
Minister, Manish Sisodia, stated that Delhi Government is always committed towards
providing the best infrastructure for school students, including classrooms, libraries,
sports playgrounds, and so on. But what about education?
Both these naive politicians – Kejriwal and Sisodia – fail to understand that the
sand-and-cement infrastructure that they are constructing in schools cannot help
improve the quality of education which is deteriorating in Delhi’s schools.
In fact, Manish Sisodia, who often makes false claims about the quality of education
in Delhi schools, has recently admitted that the students even in higher classes of
schools cannot read their books.
He has announced the launch of “​ Mission Buniyaad​ ” for improving reading levels of
children studying in Delhi government schools as well as municipal schools.
Announcing the program, Sisodia referred to the National Achievement Survey
(NAS) which has shown that the entire country, including Delhi, has a crisis of
learning in schools. The NAS survey reveals that about half of all children in schools
are not able to read their grade level textbooks.
If school students even in higher classes cannot read their textbooks, how can Delhi
Government claim that education is good in Delhi schools? In fact, the Kejriwal
government is splurging state funds in major construction and renovation of schools
which has nothing to do with education.
Education in Delhi Schools: Rhetoric vs. Reality. Research Report by Rakesh Raman. June 2018. Page 23 of 52