The World's Largest School Voucher Program: Complex Relationships in Indian Education Policy

• In Event: Global Perspectives on School Choice

Abstract

India’s Right to Education Act includes a provision described as the world’s largest school voucher program, mandating private schools to enroll poor and marginalised children. The policy has sparked debates about school choice, quality and equity in education. Non-state and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an increasing role in supporting and pressuring the state to implement this policy. We conduct a review of existing research on this provision and analyze the content of publicly available documents from three NGOs working on this policy to examine the relationships and networks between researchers, NGOs, and donor agencies that influence private schooling in India. This study serves as a case to examine the global trend of public-private partnerships towards equitable and quality education.

Authors

• Tanushree Sarkar, Vanderbilt University

• Xiu Cravens, Vanderbilt University