The Delhi University cut off lists are out. A whole 1% higher than last year! You need 90% and more to secure a seat in a prestigious college, and at least 75% to find space in DU (Delhi University). Anything less than that leaves you with few choices: a correspondence course or if you family is endowed, a seat in the new kids on the block: the mushrooming private colleges and institutions that come at a hefty price.
Statistics show that over 100 000 kids passed their class XII Boards. However one wonders where most of them will go as the pass percentage marks remain frozen in time. 35% still gets you your exam and 60% still gives you the 1st division tag.
Something is not right. Or are we mute spectators to a system that pays lip service to education for all while ensuring that the spoils remain the prerogative of a few.
For almost a decade now we have been striving to ensure that children from underprivileged homes do not drop out of school and obtain the much coveted class XII Board. It has been a handicap ridden obstacle race. Practically no teaching in schools, illiterate homes, poor motivation of parents and more. And yet year after year we have ensured that all pwhy get the coveted pot of gold. I must admit that though we have had a handful of 1st divisions (above 60%) and a sprinkling of kids with 70% and above, the majority of pwhy children secure marks between 45 and 52%. This means that the doors of DU are closed to them. And as they all come form poor backgrounds, they cannot accede to private institutions. Somehow for them the journey ends there.
Boys may join some vocational course or the other and maybe a get a job; girls are condemned to stay home waiting to be married off and produce more children who will be destined to teh same fate.
The sad reality is that one cannot see the end of the tunnel. One may wonder where the solution lies or is it that we just accept that we are fighting a losing battle. We all seem to agree that education is the magic potion that would change India. But is it the kind of education that we see around us today?
This is not a problem, its a tree of problems. Problems that have other problems that have other…. as their root cause.
Sure everyone needs quality education. But how do you provide it with a population that is exploding and with resources that are finite?
Does that mean you neglect a section of society? No, but it also means that the focus cannot be limited to education.
A comprehensive solution that caters for reduced population growth, offers equal opportunities to all indians, offers a fair and just judicial system, and a fair market where people can achieve their goals with no fear is what we need. Chase only one problem and the other problems will consume your efforts.
Well thats my opinion 🙂
pardon me, but i fail to see the social evil of a prestigious educational institution raising its bar.
the tougher the goal, the harder one works, the better the ones who qualify and the better the end result.
education is a right, but excellence is a prize one must earn.
it is sad indeed that your students will now not be able to enter DU, but surely there are other places they can, and if they are not motivated/empowered to begin with, what magic is an admission in a university going to make?
I am saying your students are to be blamed for bad performance, i have worked among high school dropouts and i know at least some of the difficulties and so i suggest you turn this in to an incentive for the rare motivated child, than turn it into an opportunity to complain.
I mean no ill will, this is not a rebuke, please do not take offense, i merely want you to think again.
blog on
schizo
you have a point but what about raising the other end of the spectrum:the pass percentage of XII Boards and also what about giving good quality education to all !