I visited some slums and the schools near them. They are in small dilapidated buildings, with few ill equipped unskilled teachers. Some of them do not even have proper toilets or drinking water facility. Most of them have no laboratories. Students usually sit on floor without mats, use one notebook for all subjects for the entire year. These students belong to poor families. Father of some work as daily wage labor, mother of other works as a maid in someone's house earning hardly enough for their survival. Their living standards are quite low, most of them are malnutritioned and their seems no evidence of light at the end of the tunnel. They don't have access to basic education, forget about quality education and don't even think of any "alternative" education. (at least how we know it)
Lets look at most of the alternative schools around the world. They are expensive and mostly for the elite. With my exposure to both the worlds, I was faced with some very disturbing questions/thoughts like -
1.) Is alternative education only a dream for the elite ?
2.) For the disadvantaged, perhaps the traditional education system which prepares them only for industrial jobs is a better way out.
3.) Is it fair to focus/spend on "alternate education" for some while others struggle for their basic education and survival ?
4.) Can alternative education be made affordable or is it impossible by its very nature ?
As usual, I've questions but no answers.
From world bank to governments, from NGOs to corporates everyone is busy educating the world. They are massively supporting education for all. Millennium development goals, Free education, Right to Education Act, Teach for India, No Child Left behind etc are just few of many such initiatives.
In India a lot of NGOs are working on education for the poor. Many surveys have shown that "Education and Children" are most supported causes by the donors. Almost every humanitarian billionaire in the world has a foundation working on education. Huge number of volunteers come from developed nations to developing/underdeveloped nation to teach the poor kids. We are all busy trying hard to make sure every single child goes to school, gets educated.
On the other hand, what we have to offer is a failed education system. "Failed" is subjective. You rob a poor child of her creativity, intelligence and love but equip her for a job so that she can earn basic amenities in life, is it still a failure ? Perhaps without this the child would not have even survived.
What is the place of creativity, fun, intelligence, compassion, love and individuality ? Especially when they are pitched against basic survival. Perhaps towards the lower end.
I am disheartened at this sad state of our humanity. I don't see any other practical solution in near future at least except to put these kids into the failure system of education. Yes, their creativity will die, they will end up a photocopy, they'll exploited by the capitalistic giants - but at least they'll be alive and self sustained. Not begging, not depending on government for their lives.
My hope from alternative education is to create leaders, compassionate human beings who might change this sad state of ours. Alternative education could be an agent of radical changes in our world but at the moment it is a solution for the selected few.
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