Inferior Outcomes: Learning in Low-cost English-medium Private Schools—A Survey in Delhi and National Capital Region

The number of English-medium low-cost private schools (LCPS) is increasing in India. Such schools are typically attended by children from economically disadvantaged families. This study, based on primary surveys in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR), finds low learning achievement for the English subject at the primary level of children attending such schools. Learning deficit in English remains hidden during students’ progress through the primary level. Further, low learning achievement for English has negative implications for other non-language subjects too, since the medium of instruction, language for textbooks and the medium of answering examinations for these subjects is English. Children’s ability to comprehend what they read and their ability to communicate in English get little attention in the teaching process. This also has an adverse impact on social equity with poor parents spending considerable money to access an education for their children, the outcome of which is poor.