Privatization of Education and Social Justice in India

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1 TWO-DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR ON Privatization of Education and Social Justice in India November 16-17, 2015 Organized by Department of Sociology Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (NAAC Accredited A Grade Central University) Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh

2 About the University and Department Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, recently accredited A grade by NAAC, was established as a Central University in There are eight schools which offer post-graduate courses and research programmes in many areas including social sciences, management studies, home science, physical science, legal studies and information science and technology. Department of Sociology was established in 2008 with M.A and Ph.D programmes. Later on M. Phil was also added. Because of its academic strength and research orientation, the UGC has sanctioned Special Assistance Programme (SAP-DRS I) to the Department in the year Theme of the Seminar Education occupies a centre stage in the contemporary knowledge society. It inculcates cognitive and non-cognitive skills among individuals and empowers them to take up various roles in the society. In recent years, the process of globalization has changed the scenario of educational expansion all over the world. Hegemony of capital has influenced the domain of knowledge and has resulted into emergence of diverse perspectives on the educational development. Most of the times, education is being used as an instrument to promote class values entailing dominance and subjugation and widening the gap between haves and have nots in many countries and societies. Institutional reforms and structural adjustment programmes in India have played a bigger role in changing the education system. New initiatives in economic policy and planning have facilitated fast expansion of private sector and sharp decline of government system. Mushrooming of public schools, exponential growth of self-finance engineering colleges and management institutes, emergence of corporate universities and indirect entry of foreign universities through various types of MoUs clearly indicates a trend of inexorable privatization. Though education projects like DPEP (1996), SSA (2000), RMSA (2009) and RUSA (2013) have been introduced by the government in last two decades but access, retention and quality have not improved up to the expectations. Broader objectives like social gender gap; social category gap, socio-economic and disability barrier, promotion of inclusion of women, minorities and differently able persons are yet to be achieved. While analyzing the discourse on education, the most fundamental question that arises is: for whom is privatization is meant for? How does this trend address the educational needs of the disadvantaged sections? What if the representation of SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities in the present education system? Do they have equal opportunities? If at all a healthy competition exists between the government and private system, who is harnessing the benefits? What are the delivery mechanisms and system support to include those who are excluded? A quick appraisal and social assessment indicate that privatization does provide freedom of educational choice, productive efficiency, equity and social cohesiveness but the outreach is very limited, generally restricted to the already privileged possessing cultural capital and having control over resources. The paradox is that growth co-exists with extreme inequalities- both horizontal and vertical. These disparities in education system are added up to the existing governing principle of domination connecting to the socio-cultural conditions of the caste ridden Indian society. It has made the issue of social justice more challenging as privatization in education has been growing every year at the rate of ten percent and government and aided institutions are declining at the rate of almost two percent. The high cost has influenced the access of SC and ST students resulting into their abysmally low (around 4 percent) representation in private institutions. In such a situation, there appears a need to contextualize the whole issue of justice in education system which is suffering from low rates of enrolment, unequal access and poor quality outcomes. Against this backdrop, the present seminar is an endeavor to understand diverse theoretical perspectives to connect privatization and social justice. There would be focus on shift in the government education policy and its strong linkages with neoliberal economy of the state. Increasing function of global educational players and private financing of engineering, technical and management institutions would also be discussed in-depth to assess the impact on the contemporary situation. International funding

3 agencies have a pivotal role to run the education system of India. Therefore, such an issue will be examined considering interconnectivity of various dimensions of on-going educational projects in the country. Thus, this seminar is likely to provide a common platform for policy makers, academicians, researchers and students to discuss diverse issues of privatization of education and new frontiers to promote social justice to disadvantaged sections. Objectives of the Seminar Crucial objectives of the seminar are to explore and deliberate upon the following issues and areas: 1. Theoretical perspectives on privatization of education 2. Policy aspects of privatization of education and social justice in India 3. Privatization and new forms of inequality at school, college and university education system 4. Problem of access, enrolment, drop-out, retention and repetition of STs, SCs, OBCs, minorities and girls/women under the government and private education system 5. Privatization of education, challenges of inclusion and social justice in globalized India Sub-Themes of the Seminar Following are the sub-themes of the seminar mainly focusing on contemporary India. Theoretical frameworks on privatization of education and social justice State policy regarding privatization of education and social justice in neo-liberal India International funding and on-going educational projects in India Government vs. Private-issues like access, equity, disparity and quality with special focus on STs, SCs, OBCs, minorities and women Privatization and new forms of inequality at school, college and university education system. Right to Education and social justice in India Privatization of education -Issue of exclusion and inclusion of disadvantaged sections Privatization of education and challenges of social justice in globalized India. Session & Panel Discussion Above mentioned sub-themes will be deliberated and discussed in different sessions of the seminar. National-level eminent scholars will also be invited to share their views in the Panel Discussion on State policy, privatization of education and social justice in neo-liberal India. Abstract Submission Abstracts of papers relevant to the sub-themes of the seminar are invited from those who want to present papers at the seminar. Soft copy of the abstract of paper can be sent through to the Organizing Secretary of the seminar at pesji2015@gmail.com (with subject line Abstract of the paper ). Length of abstract 300 words maximum. The Abstract should mention the sub-theme under which paper falls, title of the paper, author s name and designation, institutional affiliation and (all in Times New Roman with 1.5 line space).

4 Guidelines for Paper Submission Both soft and hard copy of the full- length paper can be submitted to the Organising Secretary of the Seminar (soft copy through with subject line Paper for Seminar PESJI ). The paper should be of 15 pages with the following style- All in Times New Roman Cover page- Title font size 14, all capital letter; author s name and institutional affiliation- font size 14, upper/lower case; & mobile no. Line spacing- 1.5 Space. Main paper from page 2: Sub headings- Font size 11, Initial capital; 1.5 space. Name of the sub theme under which paper is submitted. An edited book is proposed to be published which would include selected papers of the seminar. Important Dates Last date for receiving the abstract October 31, 2015 Intimation of acceptance of abstract for presentation November 02, 2015 Last date for intimation of travel plan by outside Participants November 06, 2015 Last date for submission of Full Paper November 06, 2015 Spot Registration November 16-17, 2015 Registration Fee (Non Refundable) Category of Participants Registration Fee 1. Outside Delegate Rs. 700/- 2. Local Delegate Rs. 500/- 3. Research Scholar/Student Rs. 400/- Note: i. No accommodation will be provided to the local delegates. ii. It may not be possible to provide accommodation to outside delegates who come for spot registration. iii. Registration Fee covers seminar kit/bag and lunch for all the registered delegates. iv. Outside delegates will be provided modest accommodation and food including breakfast, lunch and dinner. v. In case outside delegates wish to stay in nearby hotels on payment basis they can make arrangement on their own. vi. PDF version of Registration Form can be downloaded from website

5 Registration Fee Payment Filled Registration From along with fee in the form of DD/multi-city cheque/e-transfer/cash (Canara Bank, IFSC code: CNRB , Saving Bank A/C No , BBAU, Lucknow) drawn in favor of ORGANIZING SECRETARY, PESJI-2015 payable at Lucknow, should be sent at the following address- Dr. Birendra Narain Dubey (Organising Secretary, PESJI-2015), Associate Professor, Department of Sociology (SAS), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow Rules for Participation Registration is mandatory for participation in the seminar. All the registered participants will be provided participation/presentation certificate. One participant would normally present one paper. However, in some cases participants may be allowed to present maximum two papers. Participants are required to produce photocopy of original Demand Draft/Multi City Cheque/At Par Cheque sent, at the time of seminar for final registration. Registration through cash payment can be done at the venue of the seminar but kit/bag of the seminar is not guaranteed. Paper presenters will normally be given 10 minutes for presentation and hence are requested to organize the presentation accordingly. Note: Please do not ask for certificate if you have not presented your paper. Seminar Venue: Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow. How to Reach The University is located about 9 km away (30 minutes approx.) from the Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station and 7 km away (15 minutes approx.) from Choudhary Charan Singh Airport (Amausi), Lucknow. Taxis and auto- rickshaws are easily available there to reach the University. Patron: Prof. R. C. Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, BBAU Organising Committee: Prof. Kameshwar Choudhary, Prof. Manish K. Verma, Prof. B.B. Malik, Dr. Jaya Shrivastava, Dr. Brajesh Kumar All Correspondence should be addressed to- Dr. Birendra Narain Dubey Organising Secretary, PESJI Associate Professor, Department of Sociology Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University Lucknow ID: pesji2015@gmail.com, Mobile: , For details see University website: http//

6 Registration Form Name of the participant: (Prof/Dr./Mr./Ms.):. Designation:. Institutional Affiliation:.. Address for Correspondence: . Mobile: Phone (with STD code):. Sub-Theme:... Title of the Paper:.... Registration fee details: DD/multi-city cheque/e-transfer/cash DD/multicity cheque/e-transfer No: Dated: Bank Branch & City.... Rs... Or Depositing in Cash..

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