Now Reading: Governing party MLAs boost private school growth: IIM-B study
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Governing party MLAs boost private school growth: IIM-B study
A study by IIM-Bangalore and Masters' Union researchers, reported by Times of India, found that constituencies with MLAs from the governing party record 3-5 percentage point higher growth in private schools. The…
The Story in Brief
A study by IIM-Bangalore and Masters' Union researchers, reported by Times of India, found that constituencies with MLAs from the governing party record 3-5 percentage point higher growth in private schools. The research examined the political economy of education privatisation in India and attributed the trend to MLAs' influence over bureaucracy. Officials often delay approvals, and politician alignment matters, opposition MLAs feel powerless as bureaucrats fear transfers.
The effect is larger in less developed states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, though statistically not significant. The report also noted MLAs may directly operate private schools, enhancing social status and offering patronage opportunities. There was no comparable effect on government schools due to multi-layered policy frameworks. The authors called for greater transparency, reduced administrative discretion, and stronger quality monitoring rather than restricting private participation.
The Indian Opinion
The study punctures two lazy narratives: that private school growth is purely a market story, and that all political influence is corrupt. It shows MLAs can expedite approvals for patronage or personal profit, but the solution is not more regulation, it is transparency in approvals and independent monitoring. The real test will be whether governments act to reduce bureaucratic discretion and make approval data public.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
