Failing Education – The Gap Between Leaders and People

India is a country where every street and every village gives birth to new hopes where every parent dreams of a better future for their children. But between these dreams and reality lies a deep gap one created by our schools, our system, and the attitude of our leaders.

In the past ten years (from 2014–15 to 2023–24), the number of government schools in India has fallen by 8%. Around 89,441 schools have either been shut down or merged. The total number has dropped from 11,07,101 to 10,17,660.

Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the biggest examples of this decline losing 25,126 and 29,410 schools respectively, accounting for 60% of the total decrease. Meanwhile, Bihar offered a glimmer of hope its government schools increased from 74,291 to 78,120, a 5% rise.

But beyond the numbers lies an even more painful reality 75% of India’s government schools do not meet basic infrastructure standards. Many schools have only one teacher for all classes. Children receive degrees but not quality education. The result? Millions of educated yet unemployed youth whose learning doesn’t match the needs of the modern world. And this is where politics betrays us the most.

Leaders stand on podiums and say, “Study in India, opportunities are here.” Yet their own children study abroad in the world’s best universities, surrounded by modern facilities. They know that education there is not just about memorizing textbooks, but about preparing for the future. Meanwhile, the common people fight and divide themselves over religion and caste, while those same leaders shield their own children from the very system they have imposed on the masses.

The truth is, an educated person doesn’t fight over temples or mosques. They fight for their rights for better education, healthcare, roads, jobs, and clean water. They understand that the real struggle is not about religion or caste it’s about rights and infrastructure.

Education is not just about earning a degree; it is the ability to think, question, and stand up for one’s rights. That’s why an educated mind can see through political promises and religious manipulation.

Every year, millions of Indians are leaving the country. By 2025, nearly 1.8 million people will have migrated most of them highly educated youth. This brain drain isn’t just about finding jobs; it’s about finding a better system.

They know that true progress lies where the standard of education is high, and where the children of leaders and the children of the common people learn under the same roof.

We must understand that real change doesn’t come just by casting a vote it comes by changing our priorities. When we start asking questions not about religion or caste, but about education, healthcare, employment, and development that’s when transformation begins.

Real patriotism lies not in fighting over temples and mosques, but in striving for a strong, fair, and equal society. Only then can we give our children an India where they don’t need to run abroad an India without the growing divide between leaders and the people.