President Ram Nath Kovind plan for poor welcomed
Hyderabad: President Ram Nath Kovind’s tweet asking people to pay the school fees or buy books for a child other than their own has been received well by educational experts. While parents raise a hullabaloo about the hike in school fees, experts remind them about the money spent on extracurricular activities.
Mr Prasad Rao, a teacher, said, “NCERT books cost Rs 60 at the most. Most private coaching classes charge Rs 10,000 or more. While we keep campaigning for education for all, we cannot wait for the government alone to take action. If everyone does their bit, children from backward areas can be encouraged as well.”
An official from the Telangana State Intermediate Board of Education says that while there have been instances of individuals sponsoring the education of children, the movement is not as widespread as it should be. Members of the Save Education Society (SES) feel that if implemented as a policy, a lot of children from backward areas will benefit from it. Ms Sapna Rao, an SES member, said, “In a country like ours, which has so many underprivileged children, a policy like this would be a boon. If parents can afford to pay premium school fees and spare thousands of rupees to spend on extracurricular activities, surely they can give at least Rs 1,000 for the education of a child in rural areas.” She added that many children have the desire to learn, and giving them an opportunity to do so will result in more educated youth.
Parent associations in Hyderabad are also coming out in support of the President’s suggestion, but ask for transparency. Mr Praveen Methil, a parent, said, “It is a good step for all parents to actively pursue it until a child’s education is completed. After all, everyone deserves a chance. But if it is taken up as a policy, there should be transparency in the transactions involved. It cannot become another means for schools to make money. Even schools should be accommodating towards the cause of underprivileged children.”