Syed Khalique Ahmed
NEW DELHI—After introducing lateral entry into the central government departments on the pretext of bringing talents from the private sector, the Narendra Modi government is all set to fill the government and government-aided schools at the national and state level with “volunteers” by assigning them scholastic and co-scholastic works, and inviting sponsorship for school’s development through engagement of private individuals from inside and outside (NRIs and PIOs) and organizations, including NGOs.
On the first impression, the project appears to be very advantageous as far as improving and strengthening school education is concerned.
But educationists, academicians, and intellectuals raise serious concerns about it, based on their experience with the Modi government in the past.
Since the school authorities will have the sole right to select the volunteers and sponsors, liberal academicians suspect that people from a particular ideology may flood the government and aided schools.
They say that such volunteers may indoctrinate the school students and adolescent minds with a particular brand of political and religious ideology that will further strengthen majoritarian radicalization and religious extremism in the country.
Divyanjali has a provision to terminate the relationship with volunteers in case they are found in promoting any “divisive or other ideologies not conducive for young minds”, or “harming the safety and security (physical, emotional, social, health-related and cybercrime)” of students.
But what will happen if the school authorities do not object to the volunteers promoting divisive and hate ideologies if the school principal and volunteers share the same doctrine? We have witnessed how the provisions of the Constitution and law are being violated day and night by government agencies in different states under pressure from political bosses.
Educationists also argue that this appears to be a camouflage of the central government to gradually reduce its responsibility of school education and hand it over to the private sector. Their arguments may contain some substance because the Modi government is on a spree to transfer the government undertakings to private groups. With “volunteers” undertaking teaching and non-teaching works, the government will not require to appoint teachers against vacancies that fall with the retirement of existing teachers.
For the last three years, the budget for education has been continuously slashed. As a result, the total budget for education was reduced by six percent from Rs. 99,311 crores in 2020-21 to Rs. 93,224 crore in 2021-22. The Modi government also cut the allocation for school education by Rs. 5,000 crores, and that for higher education was slashed by Rs. 1,000 crores to Rs. 38,350 crore this year.
Intellectuals from the reserved categories say that this initiative of the central government is a part of its policy to end reservation for Dalits and other classes. Moreover, government and aided schools are one of the biggest job providers to people from reserved communities.
However, the recruitment of “volunteers” as per provisions in the Vidyanjali project is on an honorary basis. “Volunteers” will not be paid any compensation by schools for which their offer their services.
But “volunteers” can always seek individual sponsorship from corporate houses under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project and draw a salary from industrial houses. Corporate groups with massive money at their disposal can sponsor thousands of schools. Volunteers can also arrange their payments from NRIs and PIOs with the help of their contacts. There is no such restriction in Vidyanjali guidelines regarding payment to volunteers by corporates or individuals.
Educationists fear that this might, in due course, lead to taking over these institutions by corporates and other private groups. They are of the view that privatization will restrict access to education to poor and economically disadvantaged groups. This will be disastrous for the country in the long run.
Despite objections from several quarters, the project has already started. The project, created on an experimental basis at a tiny scale in 22 states, was formally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September.
Under the scheme, the Ministry of Education has launched the Vidyanjali portal. Volunteers and sponsors interested in giving their services in teaching and infrastructure areas can register themselves on the portal, https://vidyanjali.education.gov.in/
However, volunteers need to be experts and well-versed in subjects they want to give their services.
Schools requiring educational subjects and infrastructure services can also register on the portal and give their requirements in detail. Many schools in Karnataka and other Southern states have already registered on the portal with their needs. They have also provided budget estimates for infrastructural projects to be developed in their schools.
Volunteers and sponsors can then write to the schools they want to approach to give their services. However, the schools have the right to accept or reject the offers from the volunteers and sponsors.
Schools have been advised to verify the antecedents of volunteers and sponsors through their sources. The education ministry will have no responsibility on this count.
Under the general activities, the volunteers can teach subjects like English, Hindi, Science, Social Sciences, Mathematics, and all the languages including local, regional languages, mother tongue from nursery to Class VIII. In addition, they can also teach all the subjects at the secondary level from Class IX to XII in Science, Arts, and Commerce.
Volunteers will also be involved in teaching art and craft, vocational skills, yoga, and sports, depending on the requirement of schools.
There are also provisions in the project to involve volunteers for mentoring talented students, mentoring students for career counseling, helping students prepare for entrance examinations, and preparing for competitions.
Likewise, individuals and organizations can also provide infrastructure facilities like building boundary walls, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports grounds, etc.
These provisions provide opportunities to people working in the education field to help strengthen education in government and aided schools.
