The escalating cost of education is denying higher education to students who wish to pursue it but cannot afford its prohibitive cost
Baban Bhagat, from Chand Kewari village in Muzaffarpur district in Bihar, works as a daily wage labourer in the nearby town. His meagre income barely covers the subsistence needs of his family, let alone the educational aspirations of his two sons. While his elder son's academic journey abruptly ended after completing Class 12, his younger son, due to lack of money, just managed to get enrolled in Class 12. “I have tried my best to provide education to both my sons, but our financial circumstances render it impossible for me to bear the equivalent expenses for both of them, even for an undergraduate program at an ordinary institution," lamented Baban. Presently, his elder son, a high school graduate, has also become a labourer, trapped in the same cycle of limited opportunities.
A recent official survey reveals how a significant increase in education expenditure in India, has placed a substantial financial burden on households. Particularly for those households from rural areas with minimal income, educating their children becomes a burden than an investment, especially when it comes to girls. According to Pankaj Kumar, a resident of the same village, due to prevailing poverty, most children can only study up to the 10th or 12th standard. With the increase in enrollment and examination fees for graduation in government colleges, dropout rates have further aggravated. Awadhesh Kumar Das who works as a teacher in a private school in Muzaffarpur, emphasized that children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds face significant challenges when it comes to pursuing education in fields like engineering, medicine, or enrolling in coaching classes for exams like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) or Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). This difficulty stems from the increasing privatization of educational institutions.
In recent times, several reports have raised concerns about the potential impact of the New Education Policy on the privatization of higher education, leading to increased costs that could make education unaffordable for many students. According to a report, the National Education Policy is designed to support a neo-colonial economic order, favouring those from affluent backgrounds while potentially discriminating against the poor and oppressed. Addressing similar concerns, Devesh Chandra, the former District Councilor of Muzaffarpur, expressed his apprehension that the new education policy could make it increasingly difficult for underprivileged children to access higher education. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive policy that ensures equal educational opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic background. On the other hand, Ajay Kumar Singh, the District Education Officer of Muzaffarpur, reassures that the new education policy is designed to provide equitable education to everyone.
Whereas highlighting on dropping out of girls from higher education, Dr Shri Bhagwan Rai, an Assistant Professor at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, believes the government and parents share equal responsibility for this situation. “The government can be held accountable for the expensive nature of education, as it has become a major obstacle for girls to pursue higher education. Additionally, parents cannot be absolved of their role in perpetuating gender disparities by treating the education of boys and girls differently,” the Professor expressed. The escalating cost of education has undoubtedly presented formidable challenges for individuals seeking higher education, particularly impacting girls. It is crucial to recognize that girls are disproportionately affected by these financial barriers and encounter significant limitations in the absence of accessible, free, and affordable education.
(The writer is Charkha’s Volunteer Trainer)
Charkha Feature