When Arvind Kejriwal took office as Delhi’s Chief Minister, he promised a radical transformation of the city’s education system, claiming that every student would receive world-class education and that equity and quality would define the future of Delhi’s schools. However, the reality reveals a stark contrast to the promises. From underfunding in marginalised areas to mismanagement of schemes, the education system in Delhi has been marred by discrepancies, inadequate policies, and a persistent gap between promises and delivery.
1. Underfunded Marginalised Areas: A Divided Education System
Claim:
Kejriwal promised quality education for all children across Delhi, ensuring that no child was left behind.
Reality:
The promise of equitable funding has been undermined by a severe discrepancy in the distribution of resources. Elite areas like South West A are being allocated more funds, while underprivileged districts like Okhla, Ballimaran, Matia Mahal, and Karol Bagh continue to struggle with basic educational infrastructure. Wealthier, less populated areas receive more funds per student, leaving densely populated, lower-income districts to suffer with overcrowded classrooms and underfunded schools.
2. B.R. Ambedkar SOSE: Discrimination Against Government School Students
Claim:
The B.R. Ambedkar School of Specialised Excellence (SOSE) was touted as a world-class institution providing opportunities for all students.
Reality:
In practice, the SOSE scheme discriminates against government school students. Only 50% of seats are reserved for government school students, while the remaining 50% are filled by private school students, diluting the purpose of providing opportunities for marginalised students. Furthermore, the school fails to adhere to General Financial Rules (GFR), raising serious concerns about transparency and fairness. This goes against the inclusive vision that Baba Saheb Ambedkar envisioned for education in India.
3. Science Admissions: The Privileged Take More, Leaving Govt. Students Behind
Claim:
Kejriwal claimed that his government increased the number of science seats for government school students, providing them with more opportunities for higher education.
Reality:
The truth is that most of the new science admissions have gone to private school students, with government school students still struggling to get access. Moreover, many of these private students do not attend classes and rely solely on coaching centres to perform well in exams like NEET and JEE. This undermines the future of government school students, who face greater challenges in preparing for these competitive exams. The focus on inflating scores for private students directly harms the educational prospects of marginalised groups.
4. Rising Dropout Rates: Data Manipulation to Hide Failures
Claim:
Kejriwal’s government claimed that dropout rates were decreasing, a sign of the success of reforms and infrastructure development.
Reality:
Despite claims of improved infrastructure, dropout rates remain alarmingly high. In fact, 44 per cent of students are dropping out between Classes IX and X in the academic year 2023-24. To mask this failure, many struggling students have been pushed into alternative programs like Patrachar and NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling), inflating pass rates. NIOS enrollment has surged by 12.5 times over the last 10 years, from 62,508 in 2014 to 7,85,137 in 2024, reflecting a dire attempt to manipulate data rather than address the root cause of dropout rates.
5. SC Students Left Behind: The Decline in Enrollment
Claim:
Kejriwal’s government introduced the Special Component Plan (SCSP) to ensure opportunities for Scheduled Caste (SC) students.
Reality:
Rather than ensuring opportunities for SC students, the enrollment of SC students in Delhi schools has drastically fallen. From 16.5% in 2014, the SC student enrollment dropped to just 12.5% in 2024. Over 46,000 SC students have been lost from the school system in the last 10 years, pointing to a systemic failure to address the needs of marginalised communities.
6. Menstrual Hygiene: A Critical Issue Ignored
Claim:
Kejriwal’s government claimed to ensure adequate menstrual hygiene and support for female students.
Reality:
The reality is far from supportive. Studies show that 40 per cent of girls miss school due to menstruation-related absenteeism, with the number spiking to 65% in schools lacking proper girls’ toilets. This neglect of menstrual hygiene is a serious barrier that limits educational opportunities for thousands of girls, and the government’s response has been insufficient.
7. Mismanagement of Security and Sanitation Funds
Claim:
Kejriwal promised to maintain hygiene and security in schools, ensuring a safe and clean learning environment.
Reality:
While security and sanitation budgets saw an inexplicable spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, the post-pandemic period has seen a sharp decline in these essential funds. Security spending dropped by 26 per cent, and sanitation funding was cut by 16.3 per cent. This raises questions about whether these funds were mismanaged during the pandemic, with priorities seemingly shifting away from the welfare of students.
8. Teacher Shortages and Salary Cuts: The Reality of Teacher Welfare
Claim:
Kejriwal claimed that the Delhi government was working to recruit more teachers and ensure their retention in schools.
Reality:
The Delhi government’s teacher recruitment efforts have been undermined by a significant shortage of staff. There are 16,000 teacher vacancies that remain unfilled, and the salary budget for teachers was slashed by 36 per cent in 2022-23. The result is increased teacher shortages, overburdened staff, and a negative impact on the quality of education. Cutting teacher salaries at a time when education quality should be a priority reflects a lack of commitment to the core of any education system.
9. Sports Scheme: Funds Diverted Away from Athletes
Claim:
The Kejriwal government claimed to support athletes through the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Awards, boosting Delhi’s sporting culture.
Reality:
The allocation for the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Awards was just Rs 12 lakh, despite the scheme spending Rs 13-14 crore annually. In 2023, the scheme code was changed, raising serious questions about fund mismanagement and potential diversion of resources meant for athletes.
10. Shrinking Playgrounds and Poor Infrastructure
Claim:
Kejriwal promised that schools in Delhi would have ample open spaces and playgrounds for students to engage in sports and physical activities.
Reality:
The truth is that playgrounds in many schools are shrinking due to increased construction and space constraints. This lack of space has resulted in heightened tensions among students and a negative impact on their physical and emotional well-being.
11. The Yoga Scheme: A Classic Case of Fund Diversion
Claim:
Kejriwal promised that the yoga scheme would benefit all students, promoting physical and mental well-being.
Reality:
In reality, the scheme has seen its budget slashed by 98 per cent from Rs 40.32 crore in 2017 to just Rs 0.80 crore in 2023. Moreover, the recruitment of 15,000 yoga teachers raised concerns, especially when there are fewer math and science teachers in Delhi schools. Allegations of fund mismanagement, with reports suggesting that AAP volunteers were drawing salaries, cast a shadow over the legitimacy of this scheme.
Arvind Kejriwal’s educational reforms have not lived up to the promises made at the outset. The gap between rhetoric and reality is significant, with underfunded areas, discriminatory policies, mismanagement of resources, and systemic neglect of marginalised groups. The education system in Delhi requires serious reforms that go beyond political promises and address the real issues facing students, teachers, and the community as a whole.
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