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Timely cover story I HAVE been a reader of EducationWorld for over a decade now. Congratulations on your 23rd anniversary issue (EW November). I particularly like the insightful cover story ‘Reviving the lost art of philanthropy and fundraising’. The number of HNI (high networth individuals) and unicorn companies in India are multiplying rapidly as reported by several global wealth surveys, and the middle class having expanded to 350 million. Therefore this is an ideal time for all of us to practice philanthropy, however small, to upgrade India’s education institutions into globally respected institutions of learning. Narasimhan Iyengar MYSURU Resonant chord YOUR ANNIVERSARY issue was information packed and insightful, especially the four special essays written by eminent educationists. In particular, Dr. Sunita Gandhi’s ‘Suc­cessful foundational learning model’ struck a resonant chord. I have a really good feeling about Dr. Gandhi’s high-potential ALfA (accelerated learning for all) model whose pilot programme has shown such excellent outcomes. I agree with her that it is possible for the Centre’s Nipun Bharat programme to universalise foundational literacy and numeracy within months, rather than years. Sandhya Merwade NAGPUR Disappointing omission I FIND it ironic that your magazine included a mere 17 schools in the league table of philanthropy schools in the EW India School Rankings 2022-23 (EW October). I work for an NGO and was hop­ing to find more schools in your philanthropy list, but was thoroughly disappointed. I know of several schools managed by trusts, religious mutts and Christian missionaries that charge Re.1 tuition fee to the poor, which have been conveniently overlooked. Time to boost the morale of philanthropy schools! Anjali Thomas on EMAIL Our sample respondents were unaware of them. Schools rated by less than 25 respondents are not ranked — Editor Barefoot misconceptions I READ with interest your freewheeling cover feature on Barefoot College (EW August) as I had spent six months on the BC campus as a volunteer in 2021. While your coverage of Barefoot’s achievements in rural empowerment, water, solar power, education, environment, closely reflects intense media scrutiny of over five decades, I observed two inaccuracies. According to your lead feature, the “sombre golden jubilee of BC passed almost unnoticed”. On the contrary, Barefoot’s golden jubilee was celebrated in style in Tilonia, Jaipur and Delhi, and transmitted live with thousands of ‘Barefoot­ers’, as we call ourselves, around the world joining virtually. Moreover according to you, BC is “largely unsung”. Again on the contrary, BC is perhaps the most celebrated Indian NGO on the global stage and grabbed media attention from get-go 50 years ago. From the Dalai Lama to Prince Charles, Barefoot College has hosted them all. Even Robert McNamara, World Bank chief paid a surprise visit to Tilonia in the 1980s. Which other Indian social entrepreneur has been named in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the Year or The Guardian’s Green Heroes list? Similarly, Bunker Roy was given high respect by prime ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. The latter inducted him into the Planning Commission where he…