This volume examines how the public and private domains in school education in India are informed and mediated by current market realities. It moves beyond the simplistic dichotomy of pro-state versus promarket factors that define most current debates in the formulations of educational reform agendas to underline how they need to be interpreted in the larger context. The chapters in the volume present a series of conceptual and empirical investigations to understand the growth of private schools in India; investigate the largely uncontested claims made by the private sector regarding provision of superior quality of education; and their ability to address the educational needs of the poor. Further, the book looks at how the private-public dichotomy has been extended to professional identity of teachers and teaching practices as well.

Rich in primary data and supported by detailed case studies, this volume will be of interest to teachers, scholars and researchers dealing with education, educational policy, school education and public policy. It will also interest policy makers, think tanks and civil society organisations.

'This volume comprises a timely and strategic contribution to a field that has so far remained neglected in India despite its crucial importance and role in enabling massive changes to take place without being noticed as such. The use of 'quality' as a term has permitted an alliance to emerge between the state and the market. Readers will find in this volume both conceptual and empirical writings that help to recognize and analyze the 'quality' discourse with pointers to the political economy in which this discourse grew without drawing attention to itself.' - Krishna Kumar, Honorary Professor of Education, Punjab University; Retired Professor, Department of Education, University of Delhi; and former Director, National Council of Educational Research and Training, India 'This is an important book. India's school system is significant for international education debates not only as one of the world's largest but also as a site of many experiments, particularly regarding the roles of markets and states. This collection engages critically and thoughtfully with what is happening in Indian schooling and offers new insights for the international education community.'- Simon McGrath, Professor and Associate Head of School, School of Education University of Nottingham, UK; and UNESCO Chair in the Political Economy of Education 'An exceptionally rich volume that ruthlessly challenges the contemporary concepts and theories that have shaped policy on education in India! Its fresh theorisation and nuanced conceptualisation blends long forgotten philosophical aims of school education and notions of equity in India. Must be read.' - Shantha Sinha, former Professor, University of Hyderabad; and former Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, India