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. Rumi’s 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 India’s “new genre unstoppable educationists” increase!
Suresh Ramanathan
Chennai
Boards to blame
Summiya yasmeen’s 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. Yasmeen’s 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), it’s 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.
It’s sad that in his final years, he had to live abroad in self-imposed exile because of certain misguided votaries of religion. He will be remembered as a true, even if the most controversial, artist of India!
Mahesh Kapasi
Delhi
Feel-good factor
My appreciation and gratitude for publishing the leadership mantras and thoughts of the country’s top school principals (EW June). Reading through the mantras of all the principals prompted valuable reflection. It is also a feel-good factor that all of them support excellence in education.
Thank you and I hope that EducationWorld will continue to sensitise people to make a difference.
Sarojini Rao
Principal, Indus International School Bangalore
Globally unique
Many thanks for the never-before cover story (‘Leadership mantras of 28 best school principals’, EW June). I agree that managing schools is a much more complex business than running a company. I am also glad you’ve switched from writing about the mediocrities of Indian business and industry in favour of educators and educationists.
However, I notice on your website that some mentally challenged character has consistently zero-rated your cover stories. Probably a jealous rival. Don’t pay any attention.
EducationWorld is a globally unique magazine of which India should be proud. Keep up the good work!
Arun Nambiar
Delhi
Rays of hope
At last an epochal moment has arrived in Indian education with the visionary takeover of TutorVista by Pearson Plc (EW March). My journey through the vacuous lectures of ‘living dead’ tutors and self-styled educators that were inflicted upon me through my collegiate education in Bangalore, led me to yearn for an academia where the living breath of inquiry and problem-based learning could instill new life into me.
As a former educator from India, I have experienced the zombie-like education systems that self-seeking bureaucrats perpetuate. However, I see rays of hope emanating from the minds and hearts of revolutionary individuals who are infusing new ideas into educ-ation born out of inspiration and opportunity. How long can we stop the flood of new ideas from changing the moribund Indian education landscape? If it needs a tsunami of resources to change that landscape — so be it!
Lionel Cranenburgh
Perth, Western Australia