KOCHI: Despite providing free transportation, study materials, uniform and food along with improved standards of teaching, Kerala society is reluctant to send their wards to government-run or aided schools. The disinclination flies in the face of the impressive SSLC results notched up by these schools, especially those from Ernakulam district.
Shiju, from Koratty near Chalakkudy, who sent his daughter to an aided school, says: ‘’The basic issue here, I believe, is false pride. These days only those belonging to indigent sections send their children to government school. The irony is that even the lower middle class want their kids to study with those from a privileged background. I know several persons from the lower strata of society who struggle to meet the educational expenses of their wards enrolled in private English medium schools.”
Shiju’s daughter was one of the few who sought admission to the aided school this year. Even though he had his share of apprehensions regarding the kind of pupils his daughter would mix with, he said: “I sent her to an aided school because someone should begin doing it to save public education.’’
‘’The state syllabus is good but the teaching method has to change along with improvement in infrastructure in schools. As per the method of teaching we follow now, a teacher need not teach but let the students acquire knowledge themselves,’’ said Vinod K S, a high school teacher.
Jayanarayanan C and Ramesh Babu K V, both Upper Primary teachers, said teachers in government and unaided schools had started enrolling their children in government schools mainly to avoid uncomfortable questions regarding their kids’ schooling.