Valuable feedback
Your special coverage of the pre-draft NCF-SE (EW August) is exhaustive and incisive for its value, pertinence and transformatory character in the context of recasting school education. I consider your critical assessment as one of the key check-points so far as the value of our efforts is concerned. I am convinced that it is extremely important to respect the views of EducationWorld, since they are a result of a sustained build up of wisdom about Indian education acquired over 23 years.
In your cover story you have provided comprehensive and focused feedback that will further help us refine NCF-SE 2023. I believe this is extremely important as you have discharged an important duty in helping us to refine and enrich NCF-SE. Thank you very much.
Dr. K. Kasturirangan
Chairman, NCF Steering Committee, Bengaluru
India’s best PM
I loved reading your review of S. Narendra’s India’s Tipping Point (EW July). I fully agree that in the past 76 years since India attained independence from British rule, P.V. Narasimha Rao was undoubtedly the greatest of India’s 14 prime ministers.
Being an economics teacher, I often teach my children about India’s economic crisis of 1991, and how Dr. Manmohan Singh as finance minister and P.V. Narasimha Rao as prime minister, saved the economy from collapsing with timely introduction of the New Economic Policy. Liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation were at the core of the new economic policies of this silent PM, who truly rescued the Indian economy from bankruptcy.
Trilok Singh Bist, Principal
Brahm Dutt Blue Bells Public School, Sector-10, Gurugram
Distressing misinformation
I refer to the postscript article in the May issue of EducationWorld (https://www.educationworld.in/musical-chairs/). In this article you have mentioned me without verifying information or checking the facts.
There are certain truths I wish to place before you because I think it is important for you to know that I have NEVER ever been disrespected by anyone from the management of Adani International School, Ahmedabad (AISA) as reported by you. Mrs. Priti Adani is a very humble and respectful lady and she has always spoken to me with utmost respect and regard.
The reason I accepted the project of setting up AISA was because it was a greenfield project that was challenging and completely different from my previous projects. Earlier, I had been fortunate to work in legacy schools and the greenfield AISA project offered me an opportunity to explore a new skill-set and chart a different course. This was a well-planned break from the Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet at that time. I consider myself fortunate to be able to come back to HPS soon after the extraordinarily successful establishment of the AISA at an inconceivable level and in incredibly quick time.
At the core of all that educators do is passion for education which is way beyond the commercials involved. Therefore, it was disheartening to read that you measure the progress of educators on the unidimensional yardstick of remuneration. The use of words like “poach”, for managements, with its harsh connotations is particularly distressing.
In future, I request you to verify your facts and avoid misinformation.
Skand Bali
Principal, The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet
The larger point made by the snippet was that promoters should respect professional principals. Surely you agree? — Editor
Sad commentary
Your West Bengal Education News ‘Governor vs Government’ (EW August) brilliantly analyses the unhealthy stand-off between governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose and chief minister Mamata Banerjee over the issue of the former’s appointment of 11 interim vice chancellors without consulting the education ministry. This confrontation has disrupted the functioning of 25 state universities with major policy decisions on hold. It’s a sad commentary on the status of higher education in Bengal.
I believe the power to appoint vice chancellors must vest in a government appointed committee comprising intellectuals and academicians who can put aside their ideological differences and make rational decisions. With the future of thousands of students in higher education at stake, it is high time for the governor and government to put the issue to rest.
After all, recruitment of teachers, better systems and policies, infrastructure and well-being of students must take precedence over egoistic battles.
Anirban Bhaumik via email
