GPS Attendance Appreciable, But Why Parents Prefer Private Schools?

The initiative of the Government under which two different applications have been launched—one for recording the GPS-based attendance of the teachers in the Government schools across J&K, and the second one for recording the feedback of the students from class 6th and above about the performance of their teachers—is a welcome step towards identifying the grey areas in the performance and the efficiency of the teachers, which will, in turn, have positive effects on the overall performance of the Government-run schools across the UT. The applications will monitor teachers’ attendance in their schools and evaluate their performance in the classrooms, establishing a system that will accurately reflect the quality of the staff in schools and leave no room for subjectivity.

Undoubtedly a positive move, but will it be sufficient to get Government-run schools to begin functioning as desired of them? The enrolment at government schools continues to be low due to the fact that the quality of education offered there is still subpar. In such a situation, it is understandable that parents would prefer to enrol their children in private schools, where they pay a significant amount of money, rather than choosing government-run schools. This highlights the need for thinking outside the box in identifying and correcting mistakes and taking the necessary steps to set things in order. The Government-run schools have to start functioning, performing, and leaving behind a mark because they have a qualified and skilled workforce getting paid handsomely every month.

In addition to other steps, the administration must set up the necessary, cutting-edge facilities for the public schools while simultaneously ensuring the efficient and proper use of technology. This will ensure that the blackboard not only remains in the classroom but also gets to add value through the use of technology, which can also be used to improve learning in the classroom by giving students access to online resources. At the same time, teachers can enhance traditional instruction and involve students in more fulfilling learning experiences by utilising technology.

Additionally, the schools must receive adequate budgetary support, and it must be made sure that this funding is allocated to the initiatives that will have the biggest positive effects on academic achievements, such as raising teaching standards, modernising the curriculum, utilising technology, and offering extracurricular activities. In addition to building a system to track results and evaluate the efficiency of the budget allocation, there is a need to offer additional cash for additional teacher training, particularly in areas of educational technology and best practices for teaching. The list is long, but the Government must begin somewhere. Last but not least, there is a need to improve sports infrastructure in schools as many lack funding and the facilities and equipment needed to promote sports. There is hope that J&K’s educational system will soon be in the best shape ever.