100 False Promises in the Name of Education
- Madhukar Dama
- Apr 13
- 5 min read
Here’s a huge list of promises made in the name of “education”—by politicians, institutions, media, and society at large—but rarely delivered in reality. These are grouped into themes, but the tone is reflective of the betrayal often felt by students, parents, and teachers.
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A. Promises Made to Children
1. “Education will make you happy.”
2. “You can become anything you want to be.”
3. “Good marks mean you’re intelligent.”
4. “If you study hard, life will be easy.”
5. “You will find your passion in school.”
6. “Your curiosity will be nurtured.”
7. “Your individuality will be respected.”
8. “Teachers will guide you like family.”
9. “School will prepare you for life.”
10. “You will be taught how to think, not what to think.”
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B. Promises Made by Governments
11. “We will spend 6% of GDP on education.”
12. “We will build world-class schools in every district.”
13. “Every child will have access to quality education.”
14. “No child will drop out due to poverty.”
15. “We will reform the curriculum for modern needs.”
16. “We will train and respect teachers like professionals.”
17. “We will reduce rote learning.”
18. “NEP 2020 will change everything.”
19. “Education will become a right, not a privilege.”
20. “We will make education inclusive and accessible.”
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C. Promises Made to Parents
21. “Your child will be safe and cared for in school.”
22. “Your fees will be justified.”
23. “Private schools will be regulated.”
24. “Coaching culture will end.”
25. “Exams won’t decide your child’s worth.”
26. “We’ll support your child’s emotional health.”
27. “Schools won’t become profit-making businesses.”
28. “No child will be left behind.”
29. “Digital education will reach rural homes.”
30. “We will protect children from stress and suicide.”
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D. Promises Made to Teachers
31. “Your salary will be fair and on time.”
32. “You will be respected as nation builders.”
33. “No more non-teaching duties.”
34. “We will reduce your administrative burden.”
35. “We will provide regular training and upskilling.”
36. “You will have autonomy in the classroom.”
37. “Your voice will be heard in policy decisions.”
38. “We will ensure your job security.”
39. “Pensions will be protected.”
40. “Rural teachers will get proper facilities and housing.”
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E. Promises Made to Youth
41. “Degrees will get you jobs.”
42. “Campus placements will be guaranteed.”
43. “You will be industry-ready.”
44. “There will be no more skill gaps.”
45. “Internships will be meaningful.”
46. “You’ll learn life skills, not just theory.”
47. “You won’t need to migrate for education.”
48. “We’ll link education to employment.”
49. “We will support entrepreneurship.”
50. “Your creativity will be celebrated.”
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F. Promises in Policy & Vision Documents
51. “Every school will have toilets and libraries.”
52. “Digital classrooms will bridge rural-urban divide.”
53. “Dropout rates will be brought to zero.”
54. “Girl child education will be prioritized.”
55. “No child shall be discriminated against.”
56. “School infrastructure will match global standards.”
57. “Learning outcomes will be measured, not memorization.”
58. “Vocational training will be given importance.”
59. “Special needs education will be mainstreamed.”
60. “Online education will not replace real classrooms.”
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G. Corporate & NGO Claims
61. “CSR will uplift government schools.”
62. “We’re building 21st-century classrooms.”
63. “Every child deserves digital access.”
64. “We are empowering rural education.”
65. “AI and EdTech will revolutionize learning.”
66. “We are bridging the learning divide.”
67. “We are making learning fun.”
68. “Our app will solve education inequality.”
69. “We believe in equal opportunity for all.”
70. “We’re creating future leaders.”
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H. Media, Advertising & Popular Culture
71. “Top college = top career.”
72. “Marks define your worth.”
73. “Board exams decide your future.”
74. “If you don’t study, you’ll fail in life.”
75. “Toppers are heroes.”
76. “Competition is good for children.”
77. “Studying abroad means success.”
78. “Education is the only way out of poverty.”
79. “IITs and IIMs are the only dreams worth having.”
80. “Everyone should become an engineer, doctor, or IAS officer.”
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I. Society’s Unrealistic Beliefs
81. “School teaches you everything you need to know.”
82. “A child who scores low is lazy or weak.”
83. “Arts and humanities are useless.”
84. “If your child is not studying, you’re a bad parent.”
85. “Private schools are always better.”
86. “Tuition is a must.”
87. “Children must be busy all the time.”
88. “Respect elders, don’t question teachers.”
89. “Discipline is more important than understanding.”
90. “Mental health is an excuse for laziness.”
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J. Global & UN-Level Promises
91. “Education for All by 2015.”
92. “Right to Education will be enforced worldwide.”
93. “Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) will be met by 2030.”
94. “Technology will democratize learning.”
95. “UNICEF-backed programs will empower the poorest.”
96. “Global literacy will be achieved.”
97. “Education will end gender inequality.”
98. “War and crisis zones will still ensure education.”
99. “Education will end child labour.”
100. “Education will eradicate ignorance, hate, and poverty.”
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“The Great Indian Education Fair”
(A spoken-word style poem)
Welcome, dear child, to the Education Parade!
Where dreams are sold, and debts are made.
Where promises shine like balloons in the sky—
Only to pop when you reach too high.
“Study well,” they whisper sweet,
“And the world will fall at your feet.”
But no one tells you the world is rigged—
The ladder is cracked, and the steps are big.
They said, “You’ll learn to ask why and how,”
But only silence is rewarded now.
“Be curious!” they said, “Be wild and bold!”
But marked you wrong if you broke the mould.
The teacher wanted to teach with heart—
But got stuck filling reports and charts.
A child asked, “Why is the sky so blue?”
The answer: “Out of syllabus for you.”
Politicians came with cameras wide,
Promised laptops, meals, and toilets inside.
But the school roof leaked when the rains began—
And the teacher used chalk with a trembling hand.
Parents hoped for a brighter fate,
Enrolled their kids before age eight.
Coaching, coding, no time to rest—
Because toppers, you see, are always the best.
Degrees piled high, but jobs ran dry.
The boy who dreamed now sells samosas nearby.
The girl who topped her entire state
Now fights burnout and a marriage debate.
They promised life would open its gate—
If you just cleared the board exam fate.
But when the gate did open wide,
It led to loans, and pain inside.
And still, the circus carries on,
With uniforms neat and hair all drawn.
But behind the eyes of every child,
Is a forest burning, fierce and wild.
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But wait.
Amidst this ruin, something glows:
A rebel teacher who truly knows.
A child who plants, and reads, and plays—
Unbothered by the resume craze.
A parent who says, “Enough of this race.
Let my child grow at their own pace.”
Education was never a factory line—
It was rain, and roots, and light divine.
Let’s not sell it in plastic jars—
Let’s let it breathe beneath the stars.
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