Monday, July 26, 2010
Education Kerala
2. Exclusionary Trends
Several micro-level studies indicate that the situation is not as rosy as suggested by the aggregate statistics
described above. These studies revealed that the aggregate statistics camouflage some of the major differences in
the educational achievements of people belonging to different socio-economic groups. Exclusionary trends have
been getting stronger from the nineties. This is mainly because of four factors:
CSES Working Paper 22
3
1. Increase in private costs to be incurred by students
2. Growth of student financed institutions
3. Strengthening of non-financial entry barriers
4. Inadequate attention to the problems of the disadvantaged groups
2.1 Increase in Private Costs
As noted earlier, students do not have to pay any fees in the government and aided schools. The fees in the Arts
and Science colleges, which are in the government and aided sectors, are also low. The absence of fees or low
fees, however, does not imply low cost of education to the students. Data brought out by the 61st round of National
Sample Survey (2004-05) show that, on an average, the per capita expenditure on education by the rural households
in Kerala was more than double the national average (Rs.41 for Kerala against Rs.18 for India). In terms of the per
capita educational expenditure in rural areas, Kerala ranked third after Haryana and Punjab. But urban India was
spending more than urban Kerala (Rs.74 for India against Rs.66 for Kerala). The survey reveals that rural-urban
difference in educational spending by households was much less in Kerala than in the country as a whole. The
survey also points out that the proportion of households spending on private tuition/coaching is much higher in rural
Kerala than in rural India (17% in rural Kerala and 8% in rural India). However, this proportion is only marginally
higher in urban Kerala compared to urban India (17% in urban Kerala and 16% in urban India).
A study (Nair 2004) on the household costs of school education in Kerala has shown that the percentage of students
receiving private tuition ranged from 6.7% in the pre-primary schools to 34.1% in high schools. These ratios were
11.8% for lower primary schools, 21.5% for upper primary schools and 29.6% for higher secondary.
Though no fee is charged on the students, it is not free for the beneficiaries of education as they have to incur costs
of several types (special fees, examination fees, cost of reading and writing materials, clothing, travelling, study
tours, donation to PTA, private tuition etc). Based on a survey conducted in a sample of schools in Ernakulam
district, Namboothiri (2004) placed the annual private cost of students in government schools at Rs. 2313, Rs.2992
and Rs.4676 in Lower Primary, Upper Primary and High School sections respectively. The corresponding figures for
the aided schools are Rs. 3019, Rs. 3356 and Rs. 4421. In unaided schools, private costs were much higher at
Rs.9100, Rs.9281 and Rs.10608. The study revealed that the private costs of the students in government and aided
schools at the upper primary and high school levels are more than the government spending towards recurring
expenses on these students.
Several micro-level studies indicate that the situation is not as rosy as suggested by the aggregate statistics
described above. These studies revealed that the aggregate statistics camouflage some of the major differences in
the educational achievements of people belonging to different socio-economic groups. Exclusionary trends have
been getting stronger from the nineties. This is mainly because of four factors:
CSES Working Paper 22
3
1. Increase in private costs to be incurred by students
2. Growth of student financed institutions
3. Strengthening of non-financial entry barriers
4. Inadequate attention to the problems of the disadvantaged groups
2.1 Increase in Private Costs
As noted earlier, students do not have to pay any fees in the government and aided schools. The fees in the Arts
and Science colleges, which are in the government and aided sectors, are also low. The absence of fees or low
fees, however, does not imply low cost of education to the students. Data brought out by the 61st round of National
Sample Survey (2004-05) show that, on an average, the per capita expenditure on education by the rural households
in Kerala was more than double the national average (Rs.41 for Kerala against Rs.18 for India). In terms of the per
capita educational expenditure in rural areas, Kerala ranked third after Haryana and Punjab. But urban India was
spending more than urban Kerala (Rs.74 for India against Rs.66 for Kerala). The survey reveals that rural-urban
difference in educational spending by households was much less in Kerala than in the country as a whole. The
survey also points out that the proportion of households spending on private tuition/coaching is much higher in rural
Kerala than in rural India (17% in rural Kerala and 8% in rural India). However, this proportion is only marginally
higher in urban Kerala compared to urban India (17% in urban Kerala and 16% in urban India).
A study (Nair 2004) on the household costs of school education in Kerala has shown that the percentage of students
receiving private tuition ranged from 6.7% in the pre-primary schools to 34.1% in high schools. These ratios were
11.8% for lower primary schools, 21.5% for upper primary schools and 29.6% for higher secondary.
Though no fee is charged on the students, it is not free for the beneficiaries of education as they have to incur costs
of several types (special fees, examination fees, cost of reading and writing materials, clothing, travelling, study
tours, donation to PTA, private tuition etc). Based on a survey conducted in a sample of schools in Ernakulam
district, Namboothiri (2004) placed the annual private cost of students in government schools at Rs. 2313, Rs.2992
and Rs.4676 in Lower Primary, Upper Primary and High School sections respectively. The corresponding figures for
the aided schools are Rs. 3019, Rs. 3356 and Rs. 4421. In unaided schools, private costs were much higher at
Rs.9100, Rs.9281 and Rs.10608. The study revealed that the private costs of the students in government and aided
schools at the upper primary and high school levels are more than the government spending towards recurring
expenses on these students.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Hindu : Kerala / Thrissur News : ‘Identity politics more humane'
The Hindu : Kerala / Thrissur News : ‘Identity politics more humane'
Social activist P. Geetha addressing a seminar in Thrissur on Sunday.
Thrissur: A seminar on ‘Identity politics: possibilities and limitations', organised by the Solidarity Youth Movement here on Sunday, said that identity politics was more humane than class politics.
Addressing the seminar, T. Mohammed Velam said that all recent people's struggles in the State, including those at Kinalur, Athirappilly and Chengara, threw light on the CPI(M) and the CITU having served the interests of capitalist forces. “Advocates of identity politics, on the other hand, have sought to empower the oppressed and the marginalised.”
Social activist P. Geetha said that implications of identity and identity construction should be seen in a wider context. She spoke about the role of identity in gender relations and the opportunities and challenges it posed.
Social activist K.C. Varghese said that controversies triggered by the recent debate in the State about identity politics indicated that the CPI(M) was toeing the Hindutva line.
Journalist I. Gopinath said that political activities and theorising in the name of identity politics should not go against the greater goal of establishing individual liberty and freedom in society.
Social activist P. Geetha addressing a seminar in Thrissur on Sunday.
Thrissur: A seminar on ‘Identity politics: possibilities and limitations', organised by the Solidarity Youth Movement here on Sunday, said that identity politics was more humane than class politics.
Addressing the seminar, T. Mohammed Velam said that all recent people's struggles in the State, including those at Kinalur, Athirappilly and Chengara, threw light on the CPI(M) and the CITU having served the interests of capitalist forces. “Advocates of identity politics, on the other hand, have sought to empower the oppressed and the marginalised.”
Social activist P. Geetha said that implications of identity and identity construction should be seen in a wider context. She spoke about the role of identity in gender relations and the opportunities and challenges it posed.
Social activist K.C. Varghese said that controversies triggered by the recent debate in the State about identity politics indicated that the CPI(M) was toeing the Hindutva line.
Journalist I. Gopinath said that political activities and theorising in the name of identity politics should not go against the greater goal of establishing individual liberty and freedom in society.
The Hindu : Kerala / Kattappana News : Pinarayi rejects identity politics
The Hindu : Kerala / Kattappana News : Pinarayi rejects identity politics
Rejecting the demand for a broad-based discussion on identity politics, the CPI(M) leader said social evils such as untouchability could be removed from the State forever only because of the struggle undertaken by the party on the principle of class struggle. It is not self-identity but class identity that has acted as a catalyst for eradicating social evils and helped society to move towards development.
Denying that there is an ideological conflict in the party, he said the ideology on which the party is rooted still has relevance. Identity politics cannot make society progress on the path of development. And there is no change in the socio-economic aspects on which society moves, he said.
Rejecting the demand for a broad-based discussion on identity politics, the CPI(M) leader said social evils such as untouchability could be removed from the State forever only because of the struggle undertaken by the party on the principle of class struggle. It is not self-identity but class identity that has acted as a catalyst for eradicating social evils and helped society to move towards development.
Denying that there is an ideological conflict in the party, he said the ideology on which the party is rooted still has relevance. Identity politics cannot make society progress on the path of development. And there is no change in the socio-economic aspects on which society moves, he said.
Asianet | Kerala Latest News | Kerala Breaking News | Kerala Latest Headlines
Asianet | Kerala Latest News | Kerala Breaking News | Kerala Latest Headlines
Kozhikode, Sunday 30 May 2010: KEN Kunhahammed, the proponent of the identity politics today stated that the concept is a rejected idea. He however pointed out that identity and identity crisis are historical truths, which cannot be overlooked.
Kozhikode, Sunday 30 May 2010: KEN Kunhahammed, the proponent of the identity politics today stated that the concept is a rejected idea. He however pointed out that identity and identity crisis are historical truths, which cannot be overlooked.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)