The first one this year...
I was really happy this week when I saw an Indian Express news story about the Indian Supreme Court making it mandatory for most private schools to ensure that up to 25% of their students came from poorer neighborhoods around the school. Except of course unaided minority schools, very strange that.
And since I was happy, I launched into one of my stream of consciousness rants to my unsuspecting husband. About just the unfairness of it all (yet another favourite theme). Apparently, private schools claim that their fundamental rights are denied if they are forced to admit students who do not meet the financial standards of the school. In straight speak, you don't enter our gates if you can't pay our fees. To a merchant, that makes good sense. But are schools merchants too?
Because what else could explain a school turning away a child who wants to study but cannot afford it? And admitting those who do not value education but can pay for it? I remember seeing student after student that looked like they had stepped out of a Hollywood high school movie, stream out of Delhi's prestigious (read expensive) schools and shoo away scrawny street children who came running up to beg. I remember a scandal not so far back involving similar high school kids sharing videos of their classmates having sex at school. Not that every student in an expensive school is wayward but the scandal was just the tip of a far deeper iceberg. Full of those who can buy all the education in the world, without really wanting any of it.
While right outside those hallowed gates stand millions who will never be allowed entry even if they desperately want it. Just because they are too poor for school.
I think I am right. Expensive schools are no more and no less than merchants.
