Answer

Introduction

Although Article 21A guarantees free and compulsory education, the rapid expansion of private schools and the widespread dependence on private tuition have substantially increased the financial burden on Indian families. This has deepened socio-economic divides and raised questions around the State’s role in ensuring equitable, quality learning.

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Socio-Economic Implications

• Widening Inequality: High private school fees push quality education beyond poorer households, reinforcing class-based stratification and restricting upward mobility.
• Tuition Dependence: Tuition becoming essential adds additional monthly expenditure, disadvantageing low-income families and increasing academic pressure on children.
  Eg: 70% urban students relying on paid tuition (ASER-based analysis).
• Gender Exclusion: Families often prioritise boys’ private schooling during financial stress, reducing girls’ access to better educational opportunities.
• Rural Disadvantage: Rural households incur higher indirect costs due to commuting, uniforms, and materials while accessing private schools.
  Eg: Rural families spending 3–4x more on schooling after shifting to private institutions.
• Learning Gap Expansion: High cost does not guarantee quality; private tuition intensifies performance gaps between coached and non-coached children.
  Eg: ASER findings showed coached students performing significantly better in foundational skills.
• Household Debt: Parents increasingly borrow or use credit to finance schooling, pushing households into long-term vulnerabilities. Rising “education loans for school-level education.”

Role of the State

• Public School Strengthening: Upgrading infrastructure, teacher availability, and digital access reduces push factors driving families to private options.
  Eg: PM-SHRI (Schools for Rising India) schools improving NEP-aligned infrastructure.
• Regulating Fee Structure: State-level fee regulation mechanisms can cap arbitrary increases and ensure affordability across socio-economic groups.
• Quality Assurance Standards: Establishing uniform learning benchmarks and monitoring outcomes ensures minimum quality across schools.
  Eg: National FLN (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy mission) monitoring under NIPUN Bharat.
• Strengthening SSSA Mechanisms: School Management Committees and social audits improve accountability and bridge community-school coordination.
  Eg: Enhanced SMC (School Management Committees) provisions under Samagra Shiksha.
• Expanding Scholarships: Targeted aid for disadvantaged groups reduces financial exclusion and supports continued schooling.
  Eg: Expansion of PM-Poshan and scholarship schemes for SC/ST/OBC students.
• Regulating Tuition Sector: Setting norms for coaching centres can prevent exploitative pricing and excessive academic pressure.
  Eg: Draft national guidelines for coaching centres.
• Inclusive Digital Access: Providing free devices, internet, and digital content bridges learning divides amplified by private ed-tech dependence.
  Eg: DIKSHA expansion for equitable digital learning.

Conclusion

Ensuring equitable education requires a State-led ecosystem where strong public institutions, regulated private participation, and socio-economic safeguards coexist. With sustained investments and transparent governance, India can transform education from an economic burden into an accessible, empowering public good for every child.

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