Strategies for building human capacity in Indian education

Abstract

“In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a goodeducation is no longer just a pathway to opportunity--it is a prerequisite.” – Barack Obama, 2009.The Indian Education Sector is large and growing rapidly, fueled by India’s youth demographic.In FY 2012, it is estimated that spending in this sector will be $80 billion, thus reaching almost5% of India’s GDP, which is the highest share of GDP it has ever reached. It is also broadlycomparable to developing country peers such as Thailand and Malaysia at around 6%1,2.The most significant component of this spending (more than 50% by various estimates) 2 is onspending for primary and secondary education, also commonly known as K-12 (Kindergarten –12th grade). This is again almost equally split between private and public spending, with trendsindicating that private spending will gradually overshadow public spending due to growing dissatisfaction with the public systems. However, the government has recognized the flight toquality in this sector, and is ramping up spending with a focus on quality, through flagshipprograms such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan under the 11th five year plan.When we look at enrolment statistics in India, we find that almost the entire school-growingdemographic from grades 1 to 5 is now in school, due to massive campaigns being run by thegovernment. However, this drops off rapidly until grades 9-12, where enrolment numbers are amere 42%1. India also has the largest population of school-age children in the world, numberingaround 300 million, attending more than a million schools, and supported by over 6 millionteachers1. The sheer scale involved in providing basic educational services across the length andbreadth of the country is a tremendous challenge. Each state, and indeed every district, faces aunique set of hurdles in ensuring that students attend school and learn at an appropriate level.Thus the massive scale involved in driving workable initiatives in education across the countryis truly mind boggling.