Widen ambit
Congratulations to EducationWorld for publishing yet another enriching rankings of India’s best universities (EW April).
In this momentous issue I also noticed the inclusion of league tables ranking America’s best colleges and universities. Unlike earlier, given President Donald Trump stridently anti-immigration prejudice, these are challenging times for Indian students. With threats of deportation, lack of visa support, and job insecurity hanging over foreign students, the situation in the US has become uncertain.
Increasingly Indian students are looking beyond the US for higher education. Perhaps next time, you should widen your ambit to rank universities in other foreign countries.
Shubha Chatterjee
Kolkata
Globally unique
My compliments to EducationWorld on launching the inaugural ‘America’s Best Universities’ (EW April) ranking the best undergraduate colleges in the US. It is a much-needed, market-friendly initiative. Your parameters, quite different from QS and THE among other rankings and focused on undergrad education, make the EW-Launchpad Rankings 2025 globally unique. Next year you could consider another parameter which I believe is of enormous significance for undergraduate education — space and importance accorded to national-level sports and games (basketball, rugby, football), and literary and cultural activities in colleges.
Colleges generate demand and become popular because they provide a plethora of sports/games and other co-curricular activities. Think it over.
Dr. A.S. Seetharamu
Bengaluru
Critical issue
Rahul Mehra’s Teacher-2-Teacher essay ‘Improving PE & Well-being Education’ (EW April) is insightful and underscores the critical role of physical education in infusing lifelong healthy habits in children. This has also been emphasized by the National Education Policy 2020, which mandates integration of health education and life skills into school curricula.
I agree with Mehra that educators urgently need to incorporate health education/well-being into their teaching practices. This progressive approach is essential for addressing the challenges confronting students in today’s rapidly changing world.
Chintan Raj
Mumbai
Don’t ignore WHR 2025
Thanks for your editorial ‘WHR 2025: Unwarranted Cynicism’ (EW April). Given the nation’s complex socio-economic challenges, indifference surrounding India’s performance in the World Happiness Report (WHR) is understandable. However, dismissing the report’s findings is likely to hinder national development.
WHR 2025 evaluates factors such as social support, freedom, and perceptions of corruption — areas where India has considerable room for improvement. For instance, NEP 2020 aims to address education disparities, yet implementation hurdles persist, particularly in rural areas.
Admittedly, embracing technology like AI in education offers opportunities to enhance learning experiences. However, without equitable access, these innovations may exacerbate existing inequalities.
Rather than viewing the WHR as a critique, we should welcome it as a mirror, reflecting areas needing attention. Constructive engagement can guide policy reforms to improve citizens’ quality of life.
Manoj Kumar
Delhi
Education indifference
I am not at all surprised to read in your Education News (EW April) about the Karnataka government’s proposal to shut down nine state government universities. This exposes the state’s demagoguery and indifference to education.
Social media is buzzing with comments on the day-to-day struggles confronting youth of this country. Clearly, Karnataka’s Congress government has no intention of addressing the problems of the aam aadmi.
Ganesh Acharya
Mangaluru
Address ragging
Your latest Education Notes (EW April) on the expulsion of student leaders at Government Holkar Science College, Indore, for gross indiscipline, and the UGC’s show-cause notice issued to 18 medical colleges in various states for non-compliance with anti-ragging regulations, highlight the often swept-under-the-carpet issue of student rowdiness and ragging. I believe not enough is being done by college managements to curb student indiscipline on campus.
Priya Murali
Mysuru
