Affordable Private Schools in India
Education in India falls within the purview of both the Union and state governments. India has made huge progress in expanding literacy to approximately two thirds of its population. The private education market in India is estimated to be $68 billion. In spite of the growth, there are still a lot of challenges to overcome. One third of the population is still illiterate and only 15% of the students in India reach high school. The literacy rate among women is lower. The number of girls who enrol in schools is fewer than the number of boys and the drop-out rate among girls, is higher as well. Also, studies have found that teacher attendance, especially in the government run schools, is a major problem.
Affordable private schools (APS) are an alternative to government run schools for low-income families. APS are becoming increasingly popular among the low income families in India and are playing an important role in improving the education stats for the country. The fee charged by such schools is low and the quality of education provided is generally considered to be better than government run schools. As a result, such schools have been witnessing a steady increase in student enrolment over the years. Girls make up about 48% of the enrolment which is much higher than in the government run schools. The medium of instruction in most of these schools is English, which is another reason for parents wanting to get their children enrolled in these schools. The general perception in India is that schools offering English as the medium of instruction are superior and lead to better future prospects for their students. Teacher attendance, for such schools, is satisfactory and is another reason for parents choosing such schools over government run schools.
However, APSs are confronted with challenges too – the big one being underpayment of fees or not receiving the fees in a timely manner. As these schools receive no funding from the government, they are totally dependent on students’ fees for sustenance. Another challenge faced by APS, is infrastructure deficiency, be it electricity, teaching aids or playgrounds for children. Due to lack of funds, they are also forced to employ teachers who are largely untrained.
The website IndianSchoolMart.com provides a listing of Indian schools. The listing includes a brief write up for each school and its associated features which include the fee structure. A lot of APSs are also to be found in the listings. If you are looking to get your ward admitted to a school, checking the website will provide you with a lot of information on the schools you are targeting.
