Academic Paper from the year 2019 in the subject Didactics - Common Didactics, Educational Objectives, Methods, , language: English, abstract: The present study explores the role of the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) in primary government schools in Bangalore South District, Karnataka. This study compares a minority school with two Kannada medium governments’ schools to note how functional SDMCs are, the level of awareness among the SDMC members, and the rules and regulations of the SDMC. The Government of India and the State Governments, since independence, made education as an important tool to bring about socio-economic development in the country. There has been a lot of growth in the educational system. However, the outcomes in terms of enrolment, retention and quality of education have not made huge progress over the last five decades. The intention of making elementary education universal in the country and improving its quality remains a challenge. India has the highest number of illiterate populations as compared to other countries. There have been studies which tell that in order to improve the overall development of the schools; we need to encourage community participation. For effective functioning of the school, community participation in terms of parent-teacher-student interaction is a need of the hour. A decentralized approach in education is the most effective outcome to improve the quality of education. The task force report by Raja Ramanna Committee on quality improvement on elementary education introduced the importance of community participation and management for guaranteeing quality education and encouraging community participation through legislation by establishing SDMC. Karnataka was the first state in adopting SDMC. In 2001, the Government of Karnataka ordered that all the schools should have SDMC as a mandatory body by replacing VEC to bring a "qualitative change" in the educational system and to encourage the role of community in school education. The SDMC circulars describing the composition, objectives duties, responsibilities and procedures promulgated to all the schools. Every school in Karnataka has now equipped with SDMC.

Contributed articles emanating from a documentation project by Sutradhar, a Bangalore based NGO; with reference to India.

After 70 years after independence, the tragic reality of Indian schools is that who we are, where we live, how much we earn and our gender influences the kind of education we will get. In this collection of essays the author explores the contours of a school system that is facing a crisis of legitimacy. While India aspires to march towards a knowledge driven society and economy, millions of young people are left behind. Those who can afford march out of government schools only to realize that the private schools are no better. The schools they attend leaves them with little knowledge or skill, a very low self-esteem and a bleak future. This book argues that the struggle for equality in education, is ultimately a struggle for quality – both being two sides of the same coin. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The constraints, challenges, and future of the state of Karnataka are addressed in this comprehensive reference engaging a gamut of issues relevant to the state, including the real estate and financial sectors, regional disparities, human and social development, environmental sustainability, and governance. The concluding chapters are dedicated to forming a vision for the state’s future development.

Nongovernmental organizations working in education in India are professional resource centers and innovators able to reach children who are educationaly disadvantaged. The Indian government could improve the effectiveness of primary education by increasing its collaboration with such organizations.

First published in 1988. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.