In 2010, India became one of 135 countries that gives all children the right to education. The Right to Education Act gives all children from ages six to 14 the right to free public education and requires private schools to reserve 25% of their seats for impoverished children. However, many children still lack access to a high-quality education. Between the overcrowded educational system, class and caste discrimination and globalization, many Indian children are not getting the education that they need to reach their full potential.
As a Fulbright-Nehru English Teaching Assistant, I am working in a Matriculation Higher Secondary School. Matriculation schools serve children who can pull together some tuition fees, but cannot afford the better private schools. Some of the students come from families that can easily afford the tuition, but many of the students’ families struggle to afford the tuition and basic school supplies. These kids always use the normal greeting of “Had your breakfast?” even when they were not able to eat breakfast themselves. I work with children who will greatly benefit from working with a native English speaker because a good grasp on English is incredibly important to their opportunities down the road. Without a good education, kids cannot pass the exams that allow them to pursue a college education.
