The difference between village and urban school education as depicted in "The Portrait of a Lady" is a significant theme. The author, Khushwant Singh, portrays the stark differences between the two types of education through the character of Mrs. Bhatia.

Limited resources in village schools

In rural areas, schools often lack the necessary resources to provide a quality education. This is evident in the story as the village school, where Mrs. Bhatia studied, had limited resources. The school lacked proper infrastructure, such as benches or desks, and the children were forced to sit on the floor. Additionally, the school did not have enough teachers for all the students, which led to overcrowded classrooms and a lack of individual attention.

Urban schools have better resources

In contrast, urban schools have more resources and better infrastructure. This is evident in the story as Mrs. Bhatia's daughter attends an urban school where she has access to proper benches, classrooms, and teachers. The school also has modern facilities such as a science lab and a library.

Different teaching methods

The teaching methods used in village schools are often outdated and ineffective. In the story, Mrs. Bhatia's education was based on rote learning, where she had to memorize everything without understanding the concepts. This led to a lack of critical thinking skills and creativity.

On the other hand, the teaching methods used in urban schools are more modern and focus on conceptual understanding. Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively, which helps them develop problem-solving skills. The curriculum is also more diverse, with subjects such as science, art, and technology being taught.

Different attitudes towards education

Another significant difference between village and urban school education is the attitude towards education. In rural areas, education is often not considered a priority, and many children drop out of school to work or help their families.

In contrast, urban areas place a high value on education, and parents encourage their children to pursue higher studies. This is evident in the story as Mrs. Bhatia's daughter has the opportunity to attend a prestigious university, while Mrs. Bhatia herself had to drop out of school due to financial constraints.

In conclusion, "The Portrait of a Lady" highlights the stark differences between village and urban school education. While village schools lack resources and use outdated teaching methods, urban schools offer better facilities and focus on conceptual understanding. Additionally, attitudes towards education are also different in rural and urban areas.

In village author use to go to temple for study ,he learn alphabet and religious teachings in village school whereas when author shifted to city he started going to an english school where he learn science ,english,and music. in urban school there were no teachings of god whereas in village school all teachings where related to god.
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