Welcome services package

Your cover story on the affordable schools gold rush (EW July) was an enlightening read. Congratulations to Rumi Education for taking the lead in reaching out to ‘middle-of-the-pyramid private schools which offer quality schooling at affordable prices. In fact public demand for private schools offering tuition at Rs.500-1,000 per month is much higher than your projection.With teaching-learning standards in government schools consistently fall-ing, a multiplying number of lower and middle income families are opting for budget and mid-priced private schools. Though they are better administered than government schools, affordable school managements still require plenty of advice and training on how to upgrade their academic standards. Rumis well-researched education services package will definitely go a long way in helping affordable schools improve and upgrade standards. Indeed the education challenge confronting our country is so huge that we require hundreds of such affordable schooling initiatives. May the tribe of Indias new genre unstoppable educationists increase! Suresh Ramanathan Chennai Boards to blame Summiya yasmeens superbly resear-ched feature ‘Grades inflation — zero sum game (EW July) came as a resuscitating breath of fresh air as one suffocated in the media blitz that accused colleges of setting preposterously high cut-off percentages, paying little heed to school examination boards which awarded students ludicro-usly high grades, compelling colleges to prescribe equally high cut-offs. The fault is clearly of school examination boards, reflected in setting question papers, marking scheme and the laxity in awarding grades/marks. The opinion that children have become ‘smarter is a bizarre assumption. The truth is, question papers are set in a pattern which encourages selective study. Spelling mistakes are let off lightly and if a word appears phonetically ‘correct no marks are deducted, even in an English paper. Questions are direct and students not required to apply thought or analysis. Opinions are very rarely asked for or encouraged. Direct quotes even in prose pieces, merit more marks. In short, rote learning still deter-mines high marks and papers are set and corrected in a manner that encourages formulae be learnt by heart, definitions are memorised, memory is tested while understanding or intellectual capacity are not. The opinions expressed by Rajeev Gowda and Prof. Krishna Kumar, demanding an increase in the number and autonomy of private colleges and the other insisting on a reform in the way question papers are set, ring painfully true. Likewise Ms. Yasmeens contention that ‘quick-fix solutions, which are now the norm, are not the answers. Robindra Subba Director, Himali Boarding School Kurseong, Darjeeling Husain tribute Re your postscript story ‘Talent graveyard (EW July), its unfortunate that Maqbool Fida Husain had to die abroad. He was the perfect example of a true artist, above caste and religion, who lived a simple life, walked barefoot and never compromised on principles. He was honest in his fondness for Bollywood actresses, and an asset to every country — India, Britain and Qatar. Its sad that in his final years, he had to live abroad in self-imposed exile because of certain misguided votaries of religion. He…