Making public schools first choice

MOST PRIVATE educational institutions, whether schools or colleges, have no comparison with public sector institutions when it comes to qualified faculty and campus buildings.

But despite hefty or even normal fee structures, private institutions, particularly schools set up in even small rented buildings with not highly qualified staff, are fast becoming the first choice of those who can afford. The others seem just helpless, with no choice at all. The demand is high as never before and that is why the otherwise high-fee private education systems now have a growing second tier of education system, low-fee schools, being operated under multiple franchise systems. The provision of quality education is a challenge for both public and private schools. While one can partially hold textbooks responsible for this, there is definitely more to that and this includes qualified faculty. Nonetheless, one wonders as to why despite qualified teachers and big spacious buildings even with playgrounds what is stopping our public schools from becoming magnets. One also wonders what magic wand these private schools have which make these institutes grow like never before when in a parallel system absolutely free education along with the provision of free textbooks are being offered at public schools.

According to latest figures on the School Education Department (SED’s) School Information System (SIS), there are a total 450,092 teaching and administrative sanctioned posts in public schools of the province and of these over 101,831 are vacant. We do not have this type of data about private schools but given the freedom parents enjoy after paying fees to private schools, can we think of such a situation at private schools? Would someone send his or her kids to a private school where there is a shortage of teachers? Would the private school take this risk in the first place? We know the answers.

This is one area where those at the helm should focus vis-à-vis public schools. Another very important missing component at our public schools is lack of coordination with parents or guardians of the students. This is where private schools win the trust of the stakeholders by holding parents-teachers meetings (PTMs) on a regular basis. This is where they offer the opportunity to the stakeholders to hold them accountable. While some public schools would be following this tradition, this is not the case with the majority of the government schools. This is also another area for the policymakers to explore and introduce reforms accordingly.

While this is not obviously one possible solution, academic circles are of the view that authorities really need to act and act fast to make public schools the first choice as used to be in the not-too-distant past. They argue that more than a brick-and-mortar approach this has to do with the ownership and that too from the top to win public trust and deliver what is needed in the rapidly changing world. They also suggest training of administrative officers in managerial skills to deliver the best in available resources and facilities.