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Education Budget Lacks Imagination
The education budget for 2017–18 lacks imagination. There is a systematic defunding of important services and a renewed focus on tertiary educational institutions by the central government. The centre’s share of financing the education sector has decreased, placing the burden of implementation and funding on state governments. Further, promises made last year found no mention in this year’s budget which speaks volumes for the government’s educational development strategy.
In terms of budgetary processes, the fourth budget of the present government is a departure from the previous year’s budget in many ways. Unlike the conventional last working day of February, the Union Budget 2017–18 was presented on 1 February 2017. This time there was a merger of the plan and non-plan expenditures, and the rail budget was also presented alongside the main budget. However, the education sector has not benefited from any major announcements or allocation in this budget.
In last year’s budget, “Education, skill development and job creation” as a category was outlined as one of the distinct “pillars” that will transform India. This year education, skill development and job creation is presented merely as a proposal for the “youth.”
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