Thanks to the Gen-Z unrest, at long last there is some much-needed focus on school education in India. There is nothing more important than imparting quality school education up to the tenth or twelfth standard to all children irrespective of the accident of the womb and circumstances at birth. Quality school education is critical for the child to fulfil her potential and become a productive member of society and contribute to individual growth and public good. Failure to educate all children in the true sense of the spirit will lead to economic stagnation, political instability, democratic deficit, and social cohesion.

Unfortunately, despite our avowed commitment to education, significant expenditure incurred by the exchequer as well as parents, the Right to Education Act (RTE), and enshrining education as a fundamental right, we have failed to help fulfil the potential of the vast majority of our children. Much of the debate in the media today is centred around budget allocations and expenditure and infrastructure, with very little focus on outcomes and genuine empowerment and capacity building of the child. More resources and better infrastructure are welcome, but excessive focus on them is missing the wood for the trees.

Many economists and commentators urge allocation of 6% of the GDP to education. In the US, the redoubtable bastion of private enterprise, over 90% of all children go to public schools up to twelfth grade, and public expenditure on school education is about 3.5% of the GDP. In India, only 60% of children go to public schools, and the share of children enrolled in government schools is declining. In........

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