The Broken Foundation · Chapter Five
India produces the engineers who built Silicon Valley and the doctors who staff Britain's NHS — and cannot provide a functioning government school or a staffed primary health centre to the village those engineers and doctors came from. This is not a paradox. It is a policy choice.
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Public education spending | 4.6% of GDP | MOE 2023 |
| Class 5 rural students who can't read Class 2 text | 50% | ASER 2023 |
| Teacher absenteeism in some states | 25%+ | MOE 2023 |
| Graduate unemployment in some states | 40%+ | CMIE 2024 |
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Public health spending | 1.8% of GDP | WHO 2023 |
| Doctor to patient ratio | 1:1500 (WHO recommends 1:1000) | NHSRC 2023 |
| Indians pushed to poverty annually by healthcare costs | 6.3 crore | NFHS-5 2021 |
| Psychiatrist to population ratio | 1:3 lakh | NIMHANS |
| Medical colleges | 700+ — yet doctor shortage | NMC 2023 |
| Country | Education Model | Health Model | Key Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finland | No exams till 18, teachers from top 10% | Strong public primary | Eliminate two-tier schooling |
| Germany | Dual academic + vocational | Universal insurance | Vocational = graduate dignity |
| Thailand | Public investment in teachers | Universal coverage since 2002 | UHC possible at India's income level |
| Kerala | Sustained public school investment | Community health workers | Indian proof that better is possible |
Education
01 · Public Education to 6% of GDP
With independent audit. Teacher salary benchmarked to attract top 30% of graduates. Biometric attendance linked to salary.
02 · Curriculum Overhaul — Rote to Reasoning
Competency-based assessment. Phenomenon-based learning from Class 6. Dual track from Class 9 — academic and vocational with equal dignity and funding. Germany model.
03 · University Autonomy