Umesh's proposal on compulsion

["Dr. Sanjeev Sabhlok" <sanjeev@sabhlokcity.com>]

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Umesh, this is how I understand you:

Your foundations for the proposal:
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>I think I tried to articulate a proposal which would go towards formulating
>a language for a child's right to education. ...
> I see complete local control in enforcing a child's right to
>education ....
>Also, my proposal to make it a child's right to get primary education was
>based on the already established practice of keeping records of birth and
>death at local registry. The same records (more useful when computerized)
>can be used to obtain the information about every child in the village who
>would be of a school going age at a particular school session. It can be an
>annual exercise that a village clerk may undertake that verifies with all
>private and public schools in the neighborhood that all of the children of
>school going age are enrolled in one of the schools. For the children found
>missing from the school enrolment lists, the City administration should ask
>their parents to answer as to why the child was not enrolled in the school,
>which ought to be the right of the child. There could certainly be genuine
>medical or financial reasons for which the city could make provisions to the
>extent possible. But one of the reasons could also be the non-availability
>of the school in the vicinity, and at least such an exercise will allow the
>city administration to have factual basis to appreciate the need for a
>school in a particular locality. ...
>Yes, the state, meaning the big government at the
>state or central government level should have no business telling citizens
>how to raise their kids, but there is a certain conflict of interest when
>the rights of children are taken into account. ...
>the nation
>ought to think of imparting education to all and not just the rich. 

Your operational statements are:
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"For the children found missing from the school enrolment lists, the City
administration should ask their parents to answer as to why the child was
not enrolled in the school, which ought to be the right of the child...
Therefore, in the spirit of partnership, the local citizens should be
allowed to enforce their will through their strictly local city government
to ensure that children do get educated."

My reply:
========

I would like to focus only on your operational part, I find this has still
NOT answered the question: HOW WILL "the local citizens ... enforce their
will through their strictly local city government to ensure that children
do get educated."

Dear Umesh: HOW will the "will of local citizens" be determined, and if
determined, HOW will that be enforced? Do you wish to use the police force,
or fine the already poor parents? I am ONLY interested in the enforcement
mechanism, not the general 'goody-good, feel good' arguments.

HOW does "compulsion" come in? Where is 'compulsion' in all that you said? 

If no compulsion is required, but only 'request' then call it "requested
education" rather than "compulsory education." Let us cut out rhetoric and
get to action!
 
Therefore, I request: more specificity please! I have been the Secretary of
Education in Assam many years ago, and might yet look after education again
as Commissioner. Help me understand what you want and maybe I can help
formulate and implement a trial scheme of that sort.

Thanks.

Sanjeev


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