How India’s Government Can Be a Good Parent to Its Young People

The recent protests in India over the leaking of medical entrance exam question papers have shed light on a more pressing issue – the quality of education in the country. The Cockroach Janata Party’s demands for accountability and reforms are understandable, but it is essential to examine the broader context of India’s education system and its role in shaping the future of its young people.

India’s education system faces criticism for being inaccessible to underprivileged students, who are left with limited options for social mobility. The hypercompetitive job market, where securing a spot in elite higher education institutions has become a matter of life and death, exacerbates this issue. At least 20 young people took their own lives after the retest announcement for the medical entrance exam, highlighting the immense pressure on India’s youth.

The Indian government’s response to these protests has been underwhelming, with many seeing it as an opportunity to deflect attention from its own failures rather than addressing the root causes of the problem. However, the Cockroach Janata Party’s demands are a necessary step towards changing this narrative. It is essential to recognize that these issues are symptoms of a deeper problem – the lack of investment in India’s education infrastructure.

In comparison to other countries, India’s allocation of funds for education is meager. The government’s failure to address this issue has led to a shortage of quality schools and teachers, making it increasingly difficult for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access quality education. This perpetuates the cycle of inequality, where only the privileged few can secure spots in elite institutions.

The Indian government’s handling of the recent protests raises questions about its commitment to social justice. By downplaying the significance of these events and attributing them to “irregularities” rather than systemic failures, the government is essentially perpetuating a culture of impunity. This has serious implications for India’s young people, who are already facing immense pressure from the education system.

The Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) tests have consistently shown that East Asian economies, such as Singapore and China, rank at the top in mathematics, science, and reading. These countries’ successes are built on human capital development, which has enabled them to leapfrog India’s stagnant education system. In 2022, Singapore took the lead again, while China’s regions of Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu narrowly beat it in 2018.

The Pisa test results serve as a stark reminder of what can be achieved when investment in education is prioritized. It is time for the Indian government to take a hard look at its education policies and make significant changes to ensure that every young person has access to quality education, regardless of their background. The protests over the leaked medical entrance exam question papers are just the tip of the iceberg – beneath this surface lies a more complex issue – the systemic failures of India’s education system.

It is time for the Indian government to acknowledge these problems and take concrete steps towards reform. Anything less would be a disservice to its young people, who deserve better than an education system that perpetuates inequality and stifles social mobility. The question remains: will the Indian government rise to the challenge or continue to ignore the pleas of its young people?