Harvard University is set to conduct a two-year research project into the functioning of school management committees (SMCs) in Delhi’s schools. This will be done in order to chart out the impact that the presence of parents has on educational accountability. The government has given permission to the Harvard Graduate School of Education to conduct the research.
HOW DID IT HAPPEN
–Harvard Graduate School of Education asked for Delhi government’s permission to carry out a research on the SMCs
— Government gave a go-ahead to conduct the project with some riders
— SMCs were constituted by the Aam Aadmi Party government two years ago
— Government has given the permission for the research project on the conditions that the number of the teachers and the students will not be shared with the research team
— Research team will be allowed to speak to the parents during the Parent Teacher Meetings (PTMs).
DELHI-HARVARD LINK TO THE STUDY
According to the reports, assistant professor of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Emmerich Davis during his tour to India had met Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and asked for his permission to conduct a research on the SMCs in the Delhi government schools. After consulting with the officials of the education department, the government has finally sent a letter of approval to Harvard.
This came up for consideration via an application that was received from Emmerich Davies, assistant professor of Education at Harvard University. Davies specialises in education policy and politics.
Atishi Marlena, advisor to the education minister, said, “He (Davies) had heard about the work being done by the Delhi government and met us six months ago. He expressed interest in doing work on how parent participation aids education.”
