Delhi's Children Deserve Quality Education
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OPINION 11 > Volume IX Number 21 MUMBAI | 2 AUGUST 2015 basic principles about the application of the es, relatively minor cogs were hanged -- and, strong crowd at Memon’s funeral. death penalty. Was this really one of the remember, these were two of the four people Certainly, there is something wrong After a hanging “rarest of the rare”? hanged by the Indian state in the past 13 when the Indian judiciary seems intent in There is no question that the 1993 bomb years. Genuine questions therefore can and filling out death row even when the judicial Questions about application of death penalty blasts were a hideous crime. However, there should be asked about how the death penal- system never seems to get around to carrying is also the question if Yakub Memon’s crime, ty is being applied. Does it reflect the nature out these sentences. According to data pub- he early-morning hanging of Yakub impression of paying close attention to this of being a bit player in a terror conspiracy — of the overall crime? Is this in keeping with lished by the National Crime Records Bureau, Memon last Thursday, who was case. However, it is also true that much con- the accountant at that — is really a crime the “rarest of the rare” concept? Death penal- only three people were hanged between 2004 convicted of participating in the troversy attaches to this case, and to Memon’s that fits the idea of the “rarest of the rare”. ty opponents will point out that such ques- and 2013; but 1,303 capital-punishment ver- Tconspiracy that led to the place- execution. What leaves a bad taste in the You do not need to be a strict abolitionist tions are always being asked about the appli- dicts were handed out in those years. Worse, ment of bombs in Mumbai in 1993 that killed mouth is the revelation, late in the day and when it comes to the death penalty to raise cation of the penalty: there is much more than twice that number of death sen- 257 people, was preceded by considerable through a posthumously published column, these questions — after all, they were not subjectivity attached to a decision that is tences were commuted to life in prison. last-minute drama in which a bench of the that the late B Raman, an intelligence oper- raised when Ajmal Kasab, the convicted 26/11 claimed to be objective. And others will wor- Clearly this is a systemic problem. The num- Supreme Court met at 3 am — unusually, in ative who had participated in the operation attacker, was executed. This case, instead, ry that, when subjectivity is perceived in such ber of commutations, in addition, calls into the court premises, and to an attentive audi- that led to Memon’s arrest, had misgivings, reflects the concerns raised when Afzal Guru, high-profile decisions, there are political question the assumptions underlying the ence — in response to a petition filed by and felt that national security would be com- convicted of participating in the conspiracy implications that could attack the founda- original judgments. The entire death penal- Memon’s lawyers. It is difficult to argue that promised by executing him. The concerns to attack Parliament in 2001, was executed. In tions of the Indian state. This was the fear that ty debate needs to be revisited taking these the Indian judicial system did not give every related to this execution also ran deeper, to both the Parliament and the bomb blast cas- many felt when they saw the thousands- basic questions into account. Delhi’s children deserve quality education IMF gets smart Schools in the national capital lag even the generally dismal quality of India’s primary and secondary education about Greece RITIKA KATYAL & ASHOKA MODY MOHAMED A EL-ERIAN reforms, including those DELHI’S DISHONOUR that cross the his party’s “red n the recently announced Delhi govern- National Achievement y hesitating to play a lines.” ment budget, the newly elected Aam Survey Class III (2014) 273 full financing role in These are risks worth tak- Aadmi Party (AAP) — the self-styled rep- 257 the latest bailout pro- ing for the IMF. 264 I 253 B resentative of the common man — has Figures show 252 gramme for Greece, the In the two earlier average scores increased by 50 per cent the funds allocated to 244 International Monetary bailouts, the IMF was forced education, raising the proposed outlay for the Delhi Fund risks alienating both by political pressures (main- coming year to ~980 crore. National the Greek government and ly from Europe but also from But a shortage of money has not held up Average its European partners. Yet the US) to participate in pro- educational advancement either in Delhi or Kerala the institution’s approach grammes that, in addition to in India more generally. Delhi’s education Language Mathematics isn’t just warranted; it could facing design flaws and con- budget has risen steadily. Indeed, the worry well hold the key to the suc- siderable implementation is that the increased budget will once again be National Achievement Survey Class VIII (2012) cess of the challenging task uncertainties, violated two hijacked by glamorous but wasteful projects, of restoring Greece’s growth of its long-standing condi- including in higher education. Successive 277 and financial viability with- tions: first, “financial assur- national and state governments have been 261 in the euro zone. ances” that underpin seduced by higher education, and — while 257 The IMF, although will- domestic implementation 251 248 247 some achievements have been valuable — 247 ing to join in the creditor with sufficient external the nation’s educational foundation has 245 negotiations with Greece, funding; and “debt sustain- 237 237 remained shaky. 236 has indicated that its will- ability” to ensure that Primary education is the foundation of a 228 ingness (indeed, ability) to growth isn’t undermined by country’s progress. The East Asian growth participate in a new funding the persistence of excessive miracles ensured education for all from the Reading Mathematics Science Social Science arrangement depends on debt. In the process, the IMF very start, which was central to their phe- progress on some important risked its own credibility nomenal economic development. Today, and long-standing unfin- and effectiveness while China boasts of some of the best schools in the ruption bill was blocked by the opposition in ished business. It wants to exposing its members’ fund- world. But nearly 70 years after independ- the state assembly. At that point, instead of see a comprehensive pro- ing to considerable Greek ence, high-quality primary education is out of regrouping, Kejriwal chose to contest a nation- growth economic reform default risk down the road. reach for a vast majority of India’s popula- al election, in which his party was rightly oblit- programme for Greece; This time the IMF is tion. Today, over 40 per cent of Indian chil- erated. progress in its implementa- insisting on better analytical dren drop out before finishing primary school. But such is the revulsion against the tradi- tion; guarantees for the and operational anchors for a tional parties that AAP was voted back into country’s fina- new arrange- Delhi’s shame power in Delhi in February 2015 with the kind ncing needs; This time, the IMF ment for In spite of its advantages, being the nation’s of majority that only dictators in rigged elec- and debt relief. is seeking to abide Greece. And it is capital and the location of its elite colleges, tions can aspire to. But once again Mr Kejriwal The IMF is by the harsh right to do so, Delhi’s schools lag even the generally dismal and the AAP leaders are intent on throwing right to insist lessons of its own since it isn’t quality of India’s primary and secondary edu- away the opportunity with self-indulgent on these four past and avoid only the integri- cation. In 2013, Delhi’s Class III students were infighting. conditions. Wi- making yet ty of the institu- significantly below the national average in AAP’s emergence comes at a critical junc- thout them, the another costly tion that is at language achievement and in mathematics, ture, and history is trying to convey an latest bailout mistake. In the stake. Its brave according to the National Achievement “model schools.” If this is to be more than classroom, and, to some extent, create incen- urgent message. Delhi has the opportunity to agreement process, it is stance, in- Survey conducted by the National Council of words, here are some guideposts. tives to learn. But more ambitious effort is plant a seed that could flower across the would face the pointing to one of cluding the four Educational Research and Training (see Teachers’ incentives are crucial. Teachers needed. A Unesco 2014 study finds that India country. same fate as the the few ways this conditions that accompanying chart). For Class VIII students, do not show up. When they do show up, they has one of the lowest frequencies of curricu- After decades of neglect, a stronger pri- previous two, third Greek bailout it is insisting on, the performance of Delhi students was well do not teach. And, if they do teach, are they lum reform, having updated its curriculum mary education system will lead to superior which bought can succeed is critical for the below the national average in mathematics, good teachers? The AAP initiative of installing only three times since 1950 as compared to student achievement, the ability to pursue some time for success of this science and social science.