Comment: Back To School

It’s a commitment that’s taken decades to fulfil. The right to education is finally made a right of Indian children aged between six and 14. This could not have come a moment too soon. India’s literacy rate and record are abysmal, with millions denied access to elementary education. We have often argued in these columns that India’s growth story could hit a roadblock if a majority of our youth remain out of schools and are not equipped with employable skills. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, could take us far in our quest for a more equitable and progressive society. The Bill makes it incumbent on the state to provide free elementary schooling to children in their neighbourhoods. It is an ambitious undertaking, roping in private schools as well, which are supposed to reserve 25 per cent of seats at the entry level for students from disadvantaged groups. In return, the government will reimburse the private schools on the basis of what the government spends on students in its own schools. The common refrain about the poor quality of infrastructure and teaching in our schools has also been taken into account. Schools, whether private or government, will have to adhere to some common standards have play fields, drinking water, toilets and a library as well as stick to a 1:40 teacher-student ratio. The Bill seeks not just to guarantee elementary education but also reform the system, which has been a long time coming. It bans capitation fees, bars the screening and interviews of parents and students before admission, and makes corporal punishment unlawful. These are welcome measures. The Bill is well-intentioned, but the question of just how it will be implemented remains. Education is a concurrent subject, which means that the Centre and states will have to collaborate. This is a potential minefield, in which we hope the project will not become a casualty. It’s time that schools are made more accountable to local civic authorities including parents via the parent-teacher associations than being monitored by an opaque bureaucracy. Crucially, greater budgetary allotments must be earmarked for education, much more than the measly 3 per cent of GDP allocated as of now. This will help sort some of the systemic problems like poor pay for teachers, which in turn feeds absenteeism and indifference on the part of teachers. A country that has great power ambitions must be able to provide basic education and health care to all its citizens.

Filed under: Brazil

Comment: Back To School

It’s a commitment that’s taken decades to fulfil. The right to education is finally made a right of Indian children aged between six and 14. This could not have come a moment too soon. India’s literacy rate and record are abysmal, with millions denied access to elementary education. We have often argued in these columns that India’s growth story could hit a roadblock if a majority of our youth remain out of schools and are not equipped with employable skills. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, could take us far in our quest for a more equitable and progressive society. The Bill makes it incumbent on the state to provide free elementary schooling to children in their neighbourhoods. It is an ambitious undertaking, roping in private schools as well, which are supposed to reserve 25 per cent of seats at the entry level for students from disadvantaged groups. In return, the government will reimburse the private schools on the basis of what the government spends on students in its own schools. The common refrain about the poor quality of infrastructure and teaching in our schools has also been taken into account. Schools, whether private or government, will have to adhere to some common standards have play fields, drinking water, toilets and a library as well as stick to a 1:40 teacher-student ratio. The Bill seeks not just to guarantee elementary education but also reform the system, which has been a long time coming. It bans capitation fees, bars the screening and interviews of parents and students before admission, and makes corporal punishment unlawful. These are welcome measures. The Bill is well-intentioned, but the question of just how it will be implemented remains. Education is a concurrent subject, which means that the Centre and states will have to collaborate. This is a potential minefield, in which we hope the project will not become a casualty. It’s time that schools are made more accountable to local civic authorities including parents via the parent-teacher associations than being monitored by an opaque bureaucracy. Crucially, greater budgetary allotments must be earmarked for education, much more than the measly 3 per cent of GDP allocated as of now. This will help sort some of the systemic problems like poor pay for teachers, which in turn feeds absenteeism and indifference on the part of teachers. A country that has great power ambitions must be able to provide basic education and health care to all its citizens.

Filed under: Brazil

Brazil expects IMF funding decision at April G20

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By Axel Bugge

 

HORSHAM, England (Reuters) – Leaders from the G20 leading economies will decide at their meeting next month on the amount of new funds that will be given to the IMF, Brazilian central bank head Henrique Meirelles said on Saturday.

 

Meirelles said G20 finance ministers did not discuss specific amounts needed to bolster the International Monetary Fund during a meeting in southern England this weekend but there was general agreement it needs to happen.

 

“We didn’t reach numbers here,” Meirelles told Reuters during the meeting. “Now, evidently the specific decisions on numbers and so on will be taken at the (April 2) meeting of heads of state.”

 

IMF officials have said the international lender needs to double its resources to $500 billion to strengthen its ability to help developing nations facing funding crises during the global downturn. Japan has offered $100 billion and the European Union is considering a loan to the IMF of $100 billion, leaving a shortfall of $50 billion.

 

Meirelles said that in addition to more funding from IMF members, the lender’s ability to take on more debt should rise, through a mechanism such as the issuance of $250 billion more Special Drawing Rights.

 

“This would have another advantage as well; it would consolidate another reserve currency,” he said.

 

SDRs, whose value is based on a basket of major currencies, are allocated by the IMF to its member countries and are backed by member countries’ governments.

 

Meirelles repeated statements that leading emerging nations would not raise their contributions to the IMF unless their voting rights at the lending agency were also increased.

Filed under: Brazil , Brazil, Brazil expects IMF funding decision at April G20, Fund, IMF