Inspiring example

Congratulations to the Helix Technology team for inventing the TeachNext Box (cover story, EW January). Its so rare to read about an Indian invention especially in the education technology space. If publicised and promoted properly among schools, Im sure TeachNext will find wide acceptance in the teachers community and help them deliver lessons in more stimulating ways. Particularly against the backdrop of high teacher absenteeism and poorly trained teachers, its K-10 content mapped to the NCERT syllabus will prove a boon for school managements and students. The real challenge is how to reach the benefits of TeachNext to the tech-averse teachers community.It was inspiring to read that the IIT-IIM team of young entrepreneurs at Helix have given up high-paying corporate careers to invest their savings and time to promote an education company committed to improving student learning outcomes in schools across the country. They deserve our full praise and encouragement for venturing into the not-so-glamorous world of Indian education. Ramesh Singhvi Delhi Sibals misplaced priorities In your special report ‘Education milestones of 2009 (EW January), you have highlighted the appointment of Kapil Sibal as Union HRD minister as a landmark education event of the past year. Though I agree that compared to his predecessor Arjun Singh, Sibal is a great improvement, I dont think he deserves the rich praise you have heaped upon him for reviving Indias deteriorating education system. Merely announcing grandiose education reform plans to the press doesnt make Sibal an extraordinary leader. To deserve the nations praise he must first implement and achieve his education reform agenda. Moreover Id like to draw your and EW readers attention to the fact that all his reforms are centred around elite CBSE schools, not poorly equipped government schools. The majority of CBSE affiliated schools are privately run, well-funded and staff-ed, and dont require ministerial attention. Its the countrys pathetically provided government schools which require Sibals attention. But sadly he seems to have aban-doned them. He hasnt announced a single plan to upgrade reso-urces, check teacher absenteeism and impr-ove student learning outcomes in government schools. I hope in the new year he focuses his energies on modernising Indias dismal government schools which poor children attend rather than private schools patronised by the pampered middle class. Sujit Bhattacharya Kolkata Against national interest I refer to your editorial ‘Need for new States Reorganisation Commission (EW January). The demand for a separate state of Telangana and other new states is not in the interest of the nation. An increase in the number of states will make the problems of running them even greater. Just as joint families are better than nuclear ones, national unity is better than division. In bigger states, a diverse population learns to live in harmony. As the inhabitants become more accommodating, the state also grows economically. This is the argument for minimum number of states in India. Following partition, it was with great difficulty that the states were created, thanks to the efforts of Indias first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai…