Why govt schools again beat private institutions
PUBLIC VS PRIVATE Data shows while govt schools have managed an 88odd passing rate since 2011; the pass percentage of students in private schools has plummeted over the years
Outdoing Delhi’s private schools for the second year in a row, the performance of Delhi government schools in this CBSE Class 12 examinations has given the AAP government a reason to cheer.
Performing better than last year, the gap between the pass percentage of government and private schools has gone up by 9%, with the pass percentage of government schools standing at 88.27% and that of private schools at 79.27%.
Commenting on the CBSE results, Delhi education minister on Sunday tweeted, “Congratulations to all class 12 students and teachers. ‘Team Education – Delhi is the best team on education.”
Sisodia’s adviser Atishi Marlena said the results have surpassed the government’s expectations. “We had seriously clamped down on cheating this year. During the exams last year, we found out that cheating was almost institutionalised in many places. So we expected the pass percentage to drop by four-five percentage points but we have done better,” said Marlena.
However, data shows that while the performance of government schools has remained more or less consistent since 2011 — they have managed an 88-odd pass percentage — it is the private schools where pass percentages have actually seen a plunge.
It has been seen that the pass percentage for private schools has been falling consistently since 2014, when the pass percentage was 92.09%.
“It is a matter of concern that the result of private schools has gone down,” Marlena said.
Though the reasons for the deterioration are unknown, government officials and teachers of some elite institutions have suggested the mushrooming of smaller private schools may have hit the overall performance.
“There are at least one thousand private schools in the Capital. But only about 100 private schools are the top ones where parents want to send their children. But other than that we have many small private schools which have mushroomed in the city,” said government sources.
The principal of a prominent private school said, “Results in most A grade Delhi schools is good and has in fact improved. Maybe the new schools that have come up are not able to perform that well.”
Some expert, however, said that the performance of government schools has improved due to government intervention.
“Teachers’ professional growth and also the student’s academic progress were supported by many government schemes,” explained BK Sharma, principal of the Shaheed Hemu Kalani Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Lajpat Nagar. Sharma’s school has secured a 93% pass percentage.