An Issue of Quality

“What does it say about the quality of your product that you can’t even give it away for free?"
- Karthik Muralidharan, University of California, San Diego, on the woeful state of India's public education system, and the subsequent proliferation of low-cost private schools in the nation

A fascinating investigation into the proliferation of low-cost private schools, brought about by an insufficient public system in the nation of India was published in The New York Times on December 30th, 2011. These low-cost schools have tuition rates of about $1-2/month, and are able to compete with the public system on one key factor: their teachers actually attend class. I have reported repeatedly on the epidemic of teacher absence that plagues the developing world; and when teachers, are, in fact present, there is often very little teaching occurring due to the lack of properly implemented incentive structures and oversight. Aspirations of millions of Indians, witnessing the transformation of their country's economy, lies with education, which has shown a magnifying glass on the deficiencies of the state-run system. In fact, when you "cant give it away for free," there is a serious need for reform; however, these issues that plague India are issues that plague most of the world; they are certainly not unique in this situation. What is unique, however, is the dynamic response of the private sector in meeting this need. But there are deeper lessons that need to be learned; the fact that in most cases around the world, a $1-2 monthly tuition is out of the reach of many; and that a state needs to develop efficiencies in its public provisions if it is truly going to build a healthy society; simple privatization of services is not the answer either at forming social cohesion, societal equality, or in promoting a larger sense faith in the state and an idea of nationhood.