A study on how privately managed schools have benefited from globalization in primary education while Public schools have wasted the opportunity

ABSTRACT:

Globalization is an important trend that affects the world deeply in new millennium. It is seen that a new era starts and nations faces huge changes in their social, economic and cultural way. New concept’s developing student’s ability to acquires and utilize knowledge gains importance in the process of globalization and primary education developed their critical thinking skill, gain democratic values and apply their knowledge independently in an effectively designed teaching-learning environment. Privately managed schools in primary education get the opportunity of global education. But the structure of Indian primary education is top heavy and bottom weak. Another side of this is free and compulsory education, a propagate policy of Government for quite a long time. How much of monetary and other resources required for achieving this minimum requirement of education to meet the challenges of knowledge economy? Government can’t waste the opportunity and also to improved the quality of education at primary education levels.

Key Words: Globalization, Primary education, Private schools, Public schools (Government schools).

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

The concepts of Globalization:

The term globalization was first used in the field of economy. But the process of globalization has deeply affected economic, social, cultural and technological sides of societies in new world order.’ Globalization’ has been a ‘magic’ word that identifies and expresses change in every field.

Globalization and Education:

In today’s world nations can’t help participating global process in which new world order is shaping itself. In education globalization take a leading part. Students are increasingly using information technology in global process in education. With the globalization several benefits are thought to obtain Coburn[2000] listed the benefits of globalization as follows:

1. Globalization enhances the student’s ability to manipulate symbols. Highly productive employment is today’s economy will require the learner to constantly manipulate symbols, such as political, legal and business terms and digital money.

 

2. Globalization produces an increased quantity of scientifically and technically trained persons. The emerging economy is based on knowledge as a key factor of production and the industries demand the employees remains highly trained in science and technology.
3. Globalization meets the knowledge, education and learning challenges and opportunities of the information. Knowledge based business often complain that graduates lack the capacity to learn new skills and assimilate new knowledge. Globalization makes it easier.

 

4. Globalization of education prepare and practice for lifelong learning, the skills of continuous, self-directed learning, an awareness of learning opportunities, method for managing their own learning and awareness of their rights and responsibilities in education and training services

 

5. In globalization education are face-to-face new challenges. Old and traditional teaching and schooling change deeply. Students have different choice in maintaining learning activities. As Twigg and Oblinger [1996] express, the place of education is shifting from classroom and campus, the home, the library, and even network. Students have the choice of learning independent of time and space. Communication of technologies enables a shift toward learning experiences that are asynchronous rather than synchronous, making learning available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Learners are using networks to interact with their pears, their instructor, external experts and information sources. They are doing it when it is convenient, not just during scheduled class time.

Primary education is the basis of the students’ education. We have to improve the study in every aspect, both in private and public schools.

 

NEEDS OF THE STUDY:

The present study is important for students, the school authority and most of all, we Indians. Primary education forms the basic building blocks of our kids. The impact and effects of globalization is seen in the course curriculums and this is beneficial for the students. At the same time, it is worthwhile to mention that the private schools are more proactive to align themselves to the needs of global education today but the public schools have been a laggard, which in turn respond in-favorably for the students.

A school is also a society in itself. This society comprises of students and teachers. In this society, school helps the students in their studies, structures their behavior and takes them towards as an educated and socialized human being.

 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS USED:

Globalization:

Globalization expresses change in every field, from economy to policies, from social policies to culture. It has been thought as a fashion expression that opens all doors dealing with both past and future times.

Primary education:

Primary education is the basic education of the students; class 1 – 4 mentioned in our country is the duration of the primary education.

Privately managed primary education:

The primary education managed by private enterprises and trusts without the aid of government.

Primary education in public schools:

These schools are managed by government and their policies. The syllabus and teachers are appointed from government bodies.

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

The present problem is very pertinent in our education system. Education is one of the most important requirements for every child of a civil society. Every citizen wants to educate their children so that they can shape up a better career and a future for themselves and become a respectable and responsible citizen.

In this educating and career building process, primary education deeply involve with the children. The primary school brings a competition, development of the minds and total behavior of the children towards their future.

It becomes a necessary and important responsibility for primary schools to help our future children to make their education more innovative, interesting, productive and useful.

 

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY:

1. Impact of globalization in primary education,
2. Effects of globalization in Primary education in Private schools,
3. Effects of globalization in Primary education in Public schools.

 

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

Review of the related literature is the essential stage towards a research and serves several purposes in research. Previously done research and related literature leads in deciding upon the framing of problem, stating needs of the study, suggesting research design, relating the result of the study to previous knowledge, and suggesting further research. It is required that review should be conducted carefully and presented well to add to an understanding of the selected problem and help place the study in historical perspective. It would be difficult to build a body of accepted knowledge on an educational topic without meticulously done review of the related literature. The review of related literature is presented in this chapter in different subheadings.

 

Globalization:

 

Globalization is not thought as only an economic process. In a survey in 2000 on Globalization in USA, a study of US public attitude, it was found that Americans view globalization as a process of the world becoming increasingly interconnected. The breakdown on protective country, regulatory and information barer mean that businesses must increase their abilities to deliver products and services with high “knowledge premiums” by embedding knowledge in product (Quinn, 1992). Further, knowledge depreciation and accumulation rates have been increasing exponentially for decades (Badaracco, 1991). Finally, many organization members now demand opportunities for meaningful work that builds skills and a sense of professional identity, especially in work environment constantly change and lifetime employment is unlikely (Barlett& Ghashal, 1995). The impact is often overwhelming local cultures with a homogenous trans-national culture (Kuehn, 1999). In short as Delong (1999) expresses “globalization leads to a richer world, and to a more vibrant and tolerant world as well”.

 

 

Primary education:

 

In primary education, the allocation of funds for education as a percentage of GDP has been steadily declining since the implementation of the New Economic Policy (Shah & Shah, 2003). Rather it is insincerely seen as a commodity to be purchased be a consumer in order to build a ‘set of skills’ to be used in the market place or a product to be bought and sold by the MNCs (Agarwal, 2005). The quality of this commodity in general depends upon the cost of it. The shifting nature of public education funding calls for the very definitions of public and private education (Shah, 2006a).

 

The Government of India has assigned high priority to the education sector not only to achieve the Universalization of Elementary Education by 2010 but also to improve the quality of education on all levels (National University Educational Planning and Administration 2008: Elementary education in India: Progress towards universal Elementary education, NUEPA and Department of School education and Literacy, Ministry of HRD, GOI).

 

 

Globalization and Primary Education:

 

With the advent of globalization and impact is also felt in the field of Primary Education. In globalization era primary education instills educational and cultural values among students and aim at achieving multifaceted development of a child being namely intellectual, physical, spiritual and ethical development.

In primary education, curriculum may include cooperation, responsibilities, happiness, simplicity, peace, respect, tolerances, honesty, humanity and freedom.

In the 21^st century, it is vital to recognize the integrated global education into school curriculum which promotes quality education and positive school environment.

 

The main duty of a government in the field of primary education is to design the educational curriculums that have been according to strategic aims and to direct them with policies suitable for the aim.

 

The benefits of global education in primary education can be stated as follows:

1. Participatory education process to gain skills of new cultures.
2. Help students realizes how attitudes are shaped and how they affect the behaviors.
3. Provide the ability to study together with each student coming from different culture.
4. Develop the way of thinking from individualistic to global (Deniz 1999).
5. Develop the skills of multi- sided thinking.
6. Develop the language and harmony skills.

 

 

Globalization and Private School in Primary education:

 

Private schools, also known as independent schools, non-government or non-state schools are not administered by local, state or national government, thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or part by charging their students tuition. At some private schools students may be able to get a scholarship, which makes the cost cheaper; depending on a talent the student may have financial need on tax credit scholarship that might be available.

 

Private schools are very aware and adept with globalization. They take the global process in every aspect of primary education. Private schools are for the rich and affluent population. These categories of schools, in general, sequentially offer better quality in terms of internal efficiency, computer education, better infrastructure, team learning, different co-curriculum activities, and project methods, problem-solving and learning; which imparts of global education. In a knowledge economy the private returns on education are also growing.

 

Modern Infrastructures:

Private schools provide modern infrastructures for their students. Computer rooms, drama rooms, modern library, play room, coloring classroom, desk, blackboard which makes students mind more sensitive and attentive. Neat and clean school premises and school environment promotes peace and happiness, it has affected the school as a social system and students feel the belonging.

 

Varied curriculum:

Private schools aren’t limited by state guidelines in developing their curriculum. So they can offer classes that differ dramatically from public schools. These schools emphasize experimental learning through art, drama, and music. Private schools focus on students and tailor their curriculum according to Globalization of learning.

 

Low Teacher- Student ratio:

Low student – teacher ratio is an important feature of globalization. This ensure frequent student connect and regular feedback communication. This improves the guidance scenario of children and overall development.

 

Frequent Parent-Teacher communication:

Frequent parent-teacher communication is one of the big factors of globalization. These interactions make the guidelines for parents and help them to understand their children better in school and home.

 

 

Globalization and public primary schools:

 

“Government around the world recognize and importance of education for economic and social development and invest larger shares of their budget to education. The provision of schooling is largely determined and financed by government. This requires central government intervention in regional and community education system” (Patrinos 1990). Adequate funding by Government is essential to provide quality education in Public primary schools. In globalization era public school still now left behind, the reasons are mentioned below.

 

Infrastructure:

The main problem of public primary school is low standards in infrastructure. It is imperative to find proper classroom, teachers’ room, bath room and library. This in itself is the big barrier for development of primary school and education.

 

Curriculum and Text book:

It is a universal fact that the quality of education majorly depends upon the curriculum and the text books. There is a national curriculum policy for all the areas of study, from elementary to secondary education. In order to achieve the quality education, the teacher, learner, content and materials, the learning styles or study habits of learner must be considered in the choice of instructional strategies and materials. Many teachers do no incorporate them into their teaching styles or cannot access them because of distribution problem. Many schools do not have adequate text books for the students.

 

Lack of trained teacher:

In public primary schools, there is a real shortage of trained teachers. The existing Teacher Training Colleges cannot cope up with the demand. The government national policy of education should be changed and there must be improvement of both quality and quantity for the existing primary schools.

 

Background of students in Primary Public schools:

In primary public schools most of the students comes from poor and rural areas, whose parents find it difficult to afford the school fees, which can equal more than 50 percent of some families earning. Discontinuity in studies is a common phenomenon. Many parents think that the best returns are through educating sons rather than daughter. These views affect the level of support for providing their children access, participation, retention and completion of education in different levels of globalization.

 

 

Benefits of Globalization:

 

Education has become an internationally traded commodity in the present days. The degree to which privatization and autonomy are found in institutions and systems, vary. There is plethora of schools catering to the students with varying paying capacities. Normally the Government schools are for poor students, Government aided ones are for middle class and the Private schools are for rich and affluent people. These categories of schools in general, sequentially offer better quality education. Better quality in what terms? Better quality in terms of internal efficiencies. There is also a yawning gap in the performance of students from Government schools and private schools. With growing income of private household and changing patterns of consumption, it would be levels of education under various heads of expenditure by socio-economic group. In a knowledge economy, the private returns on education are also growing. In the current global climate the primary education is foreword as the hallmark of efficient and effective provision of goods and services that benefit all.

 

 

Concluding remarks:

 

The GOI has assigned high priority to the education sector, not only to achieve the universalization of elementary education by 2010 but also to improve the quality of education at all levels. Also due to policy of liberalization and globalization, it becomes all the more necessary to improve the quality of human capital to face the new challenges and competition in world of work. As a consequence, establishing a strong statistical system to conduct the educational survey on census basis and to undertake issue based studies surveys in the most efficient manner has become essential (GOI, M.Hrd). This would help in planning at macro and micro level in a realistic manner. With the use of information and communication technology, the implementation of policy at grass root level is possible.