MPs on school and college committees

THE reported move by the government to have local Members of Parliament play a major role in the management of non-government schools and colleges is rather disquieting. It is so because of the negative consequences such a move may have on these institutions where a proper and efficient administration is concerned. In this respect, it is the past record of non-government educational institutions under political management that we are reminded of. And we cannot but say that the record has never been a good one given the propensity of political figures on the management committees to give a partisan colour to the running of schools and colleges and thereby inject controversy into the entire process.
Indeed, the action taken by the newly departed caretaker government to take political elements off school and college committees and replace them with government officials was an outcome of the charges of gross corruption and other wrongdoing that political party figures had allegedly indulged in during periods of political government. A misuse of the funds of the educational institutions, encouraging admissions through a violation of rules and appointment of teachers and other employees through a flouting of regulations were cited, and not without cause, as the reason behind the change in the rules. Certainly one of the worst ramifications of the political management of schools and colleges has been the harassment of teachers at a number of these institutions on grounds of political loyalty. It is these attitudes that we feel will come to undermine the non-government schools and colleges if indeed the government seriously plans to foist political figures on their management committees.
We think the authorities should seriously reconsider the move in the larger interest of education in the country. There is the perfectly justifiable fear that such a move will be taken advantage of by future political governments with the result that it will be the schools and colleges that will suffer with every change of government. We do not, however, suggest that the management committees be run on the lines proposed by the last caretaker government, for that might lead to problems of a bureaucratic nature. It is our belief that all management committees of non-government schools and colleges should be apolitical in nature. That can be ensured through ensuring the autonomy of the institutions to choose their management committees from among their teaching staff and respectable members of the local committee known for their dedication to the cause of education.
At a time when the government is busy disseminating the message of change, let us remind it that the message should not be marred by patently wrong steps. Education is an investment. Let it not become a tool in the hands of MPs and other local political elements.