Flawed Policy

UPA’S intention to provide good education to all, including the underprivileged, is noble, but the methodology to implement the programme is flawed (“State Kills The Classroom”, April 30). Putting burden on just 7 per cent unaided private schools for accommodating 25 per cent poor children is ridiculous. As the author rightly points out, the Government should instead concentrate on government- run schools which do not have enough teachers.

AROONAVA, Kolkata The story misses the actual point. Education, as a subject, comes under the Concurrent list and so state finances are needed. Unfortunately, all our states and the Central Government, too, are bankrupt. Where will the money to pay teacher salaries come from? We have made a mess of the 5th and 6th Pay Commission reports. If India is serious about universal education, the Government must frame the necessary outline for the education sector. Funds can be found immediately by scrapping the proposed food subsidy which is proving to be redundant. The corruption-ridden National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme must be wound up without further ado.

J. AKSHOBHYA, Bangalore