CCS along with FNsT and Economic Freedom Network, Asia organised an International Symposium on Freedom in Education – International Experience in Regulation, Access & Quality, at ASSOCHAM House, New Delhi.

Over 90 representatives from National and International institutes/organisation were present at the symposium. A number of renowned National and International speakers shared their enriching experiences with the audience present. The event was covered by major Natioanl and International media agencies.

The speakers at the symposium were:

Dr Parth J Shah, President, Centre for civil Society Professor Mao Yushi, Founder of The Unirule Institute of Economics, China Mr Florencio Abad, Former Secretary of Department of Education Dr R Govinda, National University of Educational Planning& Admin., Delhi Dr. Jishnu Das, World Bank, Pakistan Dr Uthai Dulyakasem, Former Advisor to the Minister of Education Mr T K Mathew, Secretary & Chief Executive, Deepalaya Mr Sunil Jain, senior associate editor, Business Standard

Some of the points that were discussed at the symposium were:

Governments all around the world spend substantial amount on education. Yet millions have no access to quality education. Literacy rates remain low in many parts of the world, including Asia. True, the number of students enrolled at public schools may be higher. But is the quality getting any better? Are they able to build schools and other educational resources as fast as the growth in population?

Despite free education at government schools, many poor parents are sending their children to fee-charging schools. So where did things go wrong? Can the government budget allocated for education used differently achieve the goal of universal quality education? How do we go further from the Right to Education to the Right to Education of Choice, particularly for the poor? Should we allow for-profit education? What role should the government perform in nurturing education entrepreneurship? What type of delicensing, deregulation and depoliticisation of education system is necessary to build accountability and quality? What role do choice and competition have in education?

The discussion also looked at how the private sector can contribute to offering wider access to quality education, by both filling the gap in the supply, and introducing competition to the state run schools that will foster their efficiency by requiring them to compete for students.

The eminent speakers pointed out:

Dr Parth J Shah, President, Centre for civil Society "We believe that all parents should have the right to choose the education they want for their child".

Professor Mao Yushi, Founder of The Unirule Institute of Economics "China gave an insight of China education. He said two important changes in education have reshaped china's sector-One is to allow private schools to be set up in 2002. This removed the state monopoly in education. With entry of private players in education sector has brought a revolutionary change in education scenario. -2006The other is the big expansion of university admission. The admitted students increased by four times in the period 1999.

Mr Florencio Abad, Former Secretary of Department of Education, Philippines however, focused on the need for parents and communities to re-claim ther schools and also take leadership in basic education reform.

Dr R Govinda, National University of Educational Planning & Admin., Delhi remarked that the market has become a factor in education. There is a gradual change from private sector. The more we seperate state from day to day functioning of the state, there will be moretransparency. I would suggest having a regulatory body that is independent to monitor education like TRAI or Electricity Regulatory Commission."

Dr. Jishnu Das, World Bank, Pakistan used data from Pakistan to argue that how well children are doing and how private schools are better than government. Schools although they explained how study based on the villages in Pakistan, shows that even illiterate woman know whether their children are doing well or no, the study has shown that private schools cost half the
cost of government schools in Pakistan and the performance is much better than government schools

Dr Uthai Dulyakasem, Former Advisor to the Minister of Education, Thailand used Thailand figures to reflect how in Thailand , parents do not want their children to go to school as education is not socially relevant. It is surprising to note that 84% of the basic education budget in Thailand goes into paying teachers salary.