Question

You are a young IAS officer who has recently been posted in a remote district. When you reach your posting you find that the village has seen no development. The villagers give no importance to education and most children leave school to work with their parents. The parents feel this is the best option for them. Since there are very few students studying in the school the teacher does not come regularly. you also notice that the school is in a dilapidated condition. As an educated citizen you feel everyone has a right to education and its benefits. You have two options in front of you.
1. You can force all the children to attend school and warn the parents that anyone forcing their child to work will be severely punished.
2. You can request the villagers to send their children regularly. Discuss both options and suggest what steps you would take to improve the situation?

Answer 1

In this situation there are multiple issues which need to be addressed holistically, (i) Firstly, the villagers’ attitude towards education has to be changed. Until they do not ; realise the advantages of education for themselves they will never give it any importance, (ii) Secondly the infrastructure of the school has to be improved, (iii) Thirdly the teachers must come regularly as this will set a good example for the students. Forcing the children to attend school will make them come regularly but they will do it out of fear and they will dropout as soon as possible. However, mere requests will not solve the problem either as the villagers will not see how important education is. I would adopt an approach between the two.

Changing the villagers’ attitude towards education is the key to solving the problem. I would try to show them how beneficial education can be in every scenario. In many cases education is seen as a threat to the existing way of life, which is why people are not keen to educate their children. I will, try to make them understand that education is not a threat to them but instead it will open new opportunities for their village. I will also interact regularly with all the children 1 and try to coax them into attending school regularly. Secondly I will try to repair the school building. A clean and well maintained school is more likely to attract students than a broken down one. In case funds are required I will try to procure them as quickly as possible. Thirdly, I will ensure that the teachers come to the school regularly. I will remind them that it is their duty to teach the students. In case they do not improve their performance I will report them to their seniors and recommend strict action be taken against them.