Proposed Privatization of Health and Education services in Rajasthan:
Turning its back to the basic responsibilities by the state government
Nesar Ahmad
The Rajasthan government seems to be taking the
privatization route of health, education and social services in full swing and it’s in
continuation of the pro-private sector policies like changes in labour laws,
attempts to bring state specific land acquisition bill, and promoting Public
Private Partnership (PPP) in all areas.
Yesterday the state cabinet took a decision to hand over the primary health
centres (PHCs) to the private players in the name of adopting public private
partnership (PPP) mode. The government has assured that even when privatizing
the PHCs the government run schemes including free medicine and diagnosis,
immunization, 104 and 108 ambulances will continue to run. In the first phase
90 PHCs, where medical and non medical staffs are not available as per
standards, out of total 2082 PHCs are to be run under PPP mode.
privatization route of health, education and social services in full swing and it’s in
continuation of the pro-private sector policies like changes in labour laws,
attempts to bring state specific land acquisition bill, and promoting Public
Private Partnership (PPP) in all areas.
Yesterday the state cabinet took a decision to hand over the primary health
centres (PHCs) to the private players in the name of adopting public private
partnership (PPP) mode. The government has assured that even when privatizing
the PHCs the government run schemes including free medicine and diagnosis,
immunization, 104 and 108 ambulances will continue to run. In the first phase
90 PHCs, where medical and non medical staffs are not available as per
standards, out of total 2082 PHCs are to be run under PPP mode.
Though the other details of introducing PPP in running the
PHCs are yet to be known, the government of Rajasthan has already come out with
a draft “Policy for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in School Education 2015”
which proposes to open the door for private participation in school education
in the state. The rationale behind this shocking proposal is “Despite increased
state expenditure in education sector, quality of education in government
schools has been deteriorating in compared to private schools.” The draft policy document claims that there is
“better learning outcome in private schools despite lower per student
expenditure”.
PHCs are yet to be known, the government of Rajasthan has already come out with
a draft “Policy for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in School Education 2015”
which proposes to open the door for private participation in school education
in the state. The rationale behind this shocking proposal is “Despite increased
state expenditure in education sector, quality of education in government
schools has been deteriorating in compared to private schools.” The draft policy document claims that there is
“better learning outcome in private schools despite lower per student
expenditure”.
The draft policy proposes to have four kind of partnership
in running the government schools with the registered not-for-profit companies
and organizations, societies, trusts etc. First, the existing schools will be
given to the private partners on ‘first come first serve’ basis to the private
partners in which 100% students will be sponsored by the government; second
will be existing schools given to the private partners through bidding, in
those schools also 100% students will be sponsored by the government; third
will be opening new schools in “blocks other than educationally backward
blocks” in which government will sponsor only 40% students and rest 60% will
have to pay fees as decided by the private party running the schools; and
fourth, opening of new schools in Educationally backward blocks.
in running the government schools with the registered not-for-profit companies
and organizations, societies, trusts etc. First, the existing schools will be
given to the private partners on ‘first come first serve’ basis to the private
partners in which 100% students will be sponsored by the government; second
will be existing schools given to the private partners through bidding, in
those schools also 100% students will be sponsored by the government; third
will be opening new schools in “blocks other than educationally backward
blocks” in which government will sponsor only 40% students and rest 60% will
have to pay fees as decided by the private party running the schools; and
fourth, opening of new schools in Educationally backward blocks.
What is interesting is the policy document does not even
mention the Right to Education Act passed by the parliament. It is also not
clear that what will happen to the existing government teachers and
non-teaching staff. The draft policy states that government will provide free
text books, mid-day meal and other benefits to the students. The government
will reimburse per student annual fee determined by the bidding process.
However the government will not provide any staff to the schools.
mention the Right to Education Act passed by the parliament. It is also not
clear that what will happen to the existing government teachers and
non-teaching staff. The draft policy states that government will provide free
text books, mid-day meal and other benefits to the students. The government
will reimburse per student annual fee determined by the bidding process.
However the government will not provide any staff to the schools.
The claim of better education outcome in private school
despite increasing government expenditure on education and despite lower per
student expenditure in private schools requires proper scrutiny. The policy
document mentions no study in support of these claims. The increase in
government budget towards education has been at the rate of about 10 to 15% per
annum on an average during the last five years barring one time exception. But
if we compare the total allocation to the budget by the state government with
the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) the allocation actually declined from
3.03% of GSDP in 2010-11 to 2.97% in 2013-14. In the 2014-15 BE the allocation
increased to 3.99% of the GSDP thanks to the fund received from the centre for
SSA and other centrally sponsored schemes now being routed through the state
budget. But when the budget 2015-16 was presented the figures for education
budget for 2014-15 was revised to be lower by about Rs. 2300 crores and in
percentage to GSDP terms the allocation declined from 3.99% to 3.58%. The
allocation for 2015-16 also saw a routine increase of just about Rs. 1000
crores compared to 2014-15 BE and it stands at just 3.48% of the GSDP (for data see Budget Samachar April-June 2015).
despite increasing government expenditure on education and despite lower per
student expenditure in private schools requires proper scrutiny. The policy
document mentions no study in support of these claims. The increase in
government budget towards education has been at the rate of about 10 to 15% per
annum on an average during the last five years barring one time exception. But
if we compare the total allocation to the budget by the state government with
the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) the allocation actually declined from
3.03% of GSDP in 2010-11 to 2.97% in 2013-14. In the 2014-15 BE the allocation
increased to 3.99% of the GSDP thanks to the fund received from the centre for
SSA and other centrally sponsored schemes now being routed through the state
budget. But when the budget 2015-16 was presented the figures for education
budget for 2014-15 was revised to be lower by about Rs. 2300 crores and in
percentage to GSDP terms the allocation declined from 3.99% to 3.58%. The
allocation for 2015-16 also saw a routine increase of just about Rs. 1000
crores compared to 2014-15 BE and it stands at just 3.48% of the GSDP (for data see Budget Samachar April-June 2015).
The claims of better performance of the private schools and
low per student expenditure are also not based on any empirical studies as
such. The per student cost in low costs private schools might be lower than per
student costs in the government schools but there is no study to support that
learning outcome of those schools are better than the government schools. The
per student cost in the elite high end schools are certainly higher than the
government run schools.
low per student expenditure are also not based on any empirical studies as
such. The per student cost in low costs private schools might be lower than per
student costs in the government schools but there is no study to support that
learning outcome of those schools are better than the government schools. The
per student cost in the elite high end schools are certainly higher than the
government run schools.
The ASER survey suggests that the learning outcome in
private schools are, though, better than the learning outcomes of the government
schools in rural areas but the learning outcome of both private and government
schools are on decline. In fact in 2014 the learning outcome of the government
schools in rural areas has improved marginally compared to 2013 while it has
worsened for the private schools. As per ASER data the percentage of standard V
children in rural areas who can read standard II level text increased from 41.1
% in 2013 to 42.2% in 2014 in government schools while in declined from 63.3%
to 62.5% in the private schools in the same period. The yearly trends show the
decline in the learning outcomes in both
public and private schools during last 5
years the percentage of standard V children who can read standard II level text
has declined from 50.7% (2010) to 42.2 (2014) in government schools and 64.2
(2010) to 62.2 (2014) in private schools.
private schools are, though, better than the learning outcomes of the government
schools in rural areas but the learning outcome of both private and government
schools are on decline. In fact in 2014 the learning outcome of the government
schools in rural areas has improved marginally compared to 2013 while it has
worsened for the private schools. As per ASER data the percentage of standard V
children in rural areas who can read standard II level text increased from 41.1
% in 2013 to 42.2% in 2014 in government schools while in declined from 63.3%
to 62.5% in the private schools in the same period. The yearly trends show the
decline in the learning outcomes in both
public and private schools during last 5
years the percentage of standard V children who can read standard II level text
has declined from 50.7% (2010) to 42.2 (2014) in government schools and 64.2
(2010) to 62.2 (2014) in private schools.
As for the per student cost of the schooling in rural
private and government schools, we must also consider the increasing cost of
tuition in the private schools. Percentage of children taking tuitions in rural
areas has increased for private schools while there is no increase in tuition
taking students of the government schools. As per ASER report the percentage of
children in class I-V in private schools who are taking tuition increased from
5.7% in 2011 to 8.1% in 2014, while it remained at about 15% in case of
government schools.
private and government schools, we must also consider the increasing cost of
tuition in the private schools. Percentage of children taking tuitions in rural
areas has increased for private schools while there is no increase in tuition
taking students of the government schools. As per ASER report the percentage of
children in class I-V in private schools who are taking tuition increased from
5.7% in 2011 to 8.1% in 2014, while it remained at about 15% in case of
government schools.
Obviously, the better learning outcomes are affected not
just by the type of schools. The parents of the students in private schools are
better off economically, socially and educationally and that is why they can
afford to send their kids to the private schools. An analysis of 2009 ASER data
show that the learning outcome gap between the private and government schools
reduces considerably if the other factors are controlled in analysis. ASER 2014 report suggests that two-third of the learning differences between the students
of public and private schools can be attributed to other factors than the type
of school.
just by the type of schools. The parents of the students in private schools are
better off economically, socially and educationally and that is why they can
afford to send their kids to the private schools. An analysis of 2009 ASER data
show that the learning outcome gap between the private and government schools
reduces considerably if the other factors are controlled in analysis. ASER 2014 report suggests that two-third of the learning differences between the students
of public and private schools can be attributed to other factors than the type
of school.
Additionally, the participation of private players in the
school education will also open the door for the all kind of politically and
ideologically motivated organizations to take over the government schools and
provide the students kind of education which may not necessarily be in accord
with the Constitutional and democratic values the country stands for.
school education will also open the door for the all kind of politically and
ideologically motivated organizations to take over the government schools and
provide the students kind of education which may not necessarily be in accord
with the Constitutional and democratic values the country stands for.
Obviously the government of Rajasthan is acting in haste
without properly analyzing the situation. The need of the hour is strengthening
the government schools by increasing budget, properly implementing the Right to
Education Act, strengthening the school management committees, and increasing
the participation of the people. Similarly improvement in community monitoring of
health services, as envisaged in the National Health Mission, beside increased
budget and improved infrastructure, will go a long way in improving the rural
health services. Another kind of PPP is required to improve
both government heath centres as well as the school education i.e.
people-public-partnership. If the participation of people in the villages whose children
are to be educated and who are to be given health services are increased in an
effective manner, government will not require to involve the private players in
providing theses basic services, which are prime responsibility of any elected
government in the first place.
without properly analyzing the situation. The need of the hour is strengthening
the government schools by increasing budget, properly implementing the Right to
Education Act, strengthening the school management committees, and increasing
the participation of the people. Similarly improvement in community monitoring of
health services, as envisaged in the National Health Mission, beside increased
budget and improved infrastructure, will go a long way in improving the rural
health services. Another kind of PPP is required to improve
both government heath centres as well as the school education i.e.
people-public-partnership. If the participation of people in the villages whose children
are to be educated and who are to be given health services are increased in an
effective manner, government will not require to involve the private players in
providing theses basic services, which are prime responsibility of any elected
government in the first place.
