Bangalore and beyond!

I don't work in Children' services in the UK so I don't really have much to compare the provision of education here with but- at Shristi which is a charity providing life skills and 'education' to young people from 2 to young adults and is classed as a Private school- the teacher pupil ratio is about 1:3 ( 20 kids in the school and 60 in a  campus out of the city). I am not sure of the quality of that provision (which is probably unfair of me and I will no doubt revisit this subject loads) because it all seems a little adhoc and there is a lot of sitting around for them waiting for the next activity to happen ( as they all have autism to varying degrees I am just bloody impressed that they on the whole sit quietly waiting). So in an attempt at a local comparison I asked to see a Government school. Well, I was only there for 10 mins and I will go back but oooh BIG difference. In this one class 60 pupils and 1 teacher across 3 school years. All dressed immaculately in school uniform. I was told they are probably from 'poor' families(too vague a description to be of any use so I need to find out more). The oldest children are taught by the teacher how to 'teach' and they then support the younger pupils in groups. Everyone sitting on the floor in a room 20ft square. Loads of art on the walls and a fantastic project in one corner- a model of a 'typical' village , including model elephant. The kids were lovely, polite and interested in the 'madam'. The teacher very helpful at explaining the system. Bit of an eye opener in a country where there is so much focus on education. In Government schools the kids are taught in Kannadar , the local language in karnataka where bangalore is the main city. In all private schools they are taught in English.