EW impact assessment

Following the launch of EducationWorld in 1999 with the objective of “building the pressure of public opinion to make education the #1 item on the national agenda”, even if belatedly, private sector education providers, NGOs and idealistic citizens countrywide are exhibiting enthusiasm for promoting progressive education institutions, improving teaching-learning standards and measuring learning outcomes – Summiya Yasmeen Twenty years after EducationWorld was launched on November 1, 1999 with the ambitious objective to “build the pressure of public opinion to make education the #1 item on the national agenda,” it’s time for an impact assessment. Quite clearly, one can’t proclaim mission accomplished, not by a long chalk. But although education is not yet the premier national priority, there’s no denying this project has steadily inched up the socio-economic development agendas of the Central and state governments. After decades of neglect during which India has attained the dubious distinction of hosting the world’s largest number of illiterates, continuously plunging learning outcomes in primary education, globally uncompetitive universities and lowest workplace productivity worldwide, the silver lining is that private sector education providers, NGOs and idealistic citizens countrywide have seen the light and are exhibiting enthusiasm for promoting progressive education institutions, improving teaching-learning standards and measuring learning outcomes. Across the country, in seminars and workshops, there’s unprecedented interest in breakaway pedagogies and radical education reform. It would be presumptuous for your editors to take the credit for the phenomenon of rising awareness of the critical importance of quality education for all within the establishment and the public. Across the subcontinent, thousands of voluntary services groups (NGOs), dedicated educationists, philanthropists, teachers and edupreneurs are working unsung and often in the teeth of opposition from interfering government bureaucrats to raise teaching-learning standards in the country’s schools, colleges and universities to global norms. EducationWorld’s contribution is that for the past 20 years, we have told their stories and projected them as inspiring models whose initiatives are worthy of replication. Coterminously, we have achieved some success in impacting the critical importance of early childhood care and education upon the national consciousness; publicising the importance of measuring student learning outcomes and inspiring education institutions to strive for continuous improvement through our field-based pioneer preschools, schools and higher education ranking surveys, conferences and awards for best performing institutions, among other initiatives. Yet on the other hand, our persistent advocacy of government expenditure (Centre plus states) being raised from the current 3-3.25 percent to 6 percent of GDP as recommended by the Kothari Commission (1966), T.S.R. Subramanian Committee (2016) and the Kasturirangan Committee (2019), has been a rank failure. In the table set out below, we provide an honest assessment of an internal jury on the socio-economic impact made by EducationWorld through our editorial and other initiatives. EW internal jury assessment Objectives/Rating metrics To make education the #1 item on the national agenda” ** • Propagating vital importance of professionally administered early childhood care and education *** • Popularising measurement of students’ learning outcomes *** • Liberalisation of education advocacy ** • Vocational…