-Economic and Political Weekly There are basic methodological and conceptual problems with recent research that ends up arguing that private school education is more effective than public education. Such findings have obvious policy implications but it is critical that research that informs policy is based on a correct reading of facts, keeping the larger vision of education in mind. Recent research into the cost effectiveness of public education vis-à-vis private education concludes...

-Economic and Political Weekly   Through a two-way process comprising text analysis of the policy framework of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme and analysis of empirical data collected through interaction with policy implementers, teachers, students, experts, etc, this article puts forth the argument that urban education system has failed partly because of the inability of the implementers to plan, manage and facilitate the programme. Monika Banerjee (banerjie77@gmail.com) is with the Zakir Husain Centre...

-The Hindu The power of the bicycles to confer economic and social freedom even in the age of the automobile remains undiminished. Bihar is using it to cut the dropout rate for girls. Bicycles and safe roads are a winning combination. While she was on her way to school one morning, Smriti's bicycle brushed against a speeding truck, and she fell to the ground. After a few stitches on her injured elbow,...

-The Hindu Lack of infrastructure force children with disabilities, especially girls, to drop out from schools Lesser number of girls with disabilities are enrolled in schools than boys and their enrolment has remained consistently around 40 per cent, a latest study has shown. The enrolment of girl students with disabilities was 43.57 per cent in 2009-10, 43.07 per cent in 2010-11, 41.51 per cent in 2011-12, and 40.21 per cent in 2012-13. Comparison...

-Deccan Chronicle Bengaluru: Today, the deadline for compliance with the infrastructure requirements of the Right to Education Act expires, but astoundingly, only 7 per cent of schools across the country meet the eligibility criteria. This means that over 3,00,000 private schools across the country are looking at closure once the deadline has passed, according to the Act. This means that nearly five crore students will be out of school. According to...