Page 16 - EducationWorld December 2022

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such excellent outcomes. I agree Moreover according to you, BC
with her that it is possible for the is “largely unsung”. Again on the
Centre’s Nipun Bharat programme contrary, BC is perhaps the most
to universalise foundational literacy celebrated Indian NGO on the global
and numeracy within months, rather stage and grabbed media attention
than years. from get-go 50 years ago. From
Sandhya Merwade the Dalai Lama to Prince Charles,
NAGPUR Barefoot College has hosted them
all. Even Robert McNamara, World
Bank chief paid a surprise visit to
Disappointing omission Tilonia in the 1980s. Which other
I FIND it ironic that your magazine Indian social entrepreneur has been
included a mere 17 schools in the named in TIME magazine’s 100
league table of philanthropy schools Most Influential People of the Year
in the EW India School Rankings or The Guardian’s Green Heroes
2022-23 (EW October). list? Similarly, Bunker Roy was given
NOVEMBER 2022 I work for an NGO and was hop- high respect by prime ministers
ing to find more schools in your Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. The latter
philanthropy list, but was thoroughly inducted him into the Planning
disappointed. I know of several Commission where he worked
Timely cover story schools managed by trusts, religious closely with Sam Pitroda.
I HAVE been a reader of mutts and Christian missionaries I refrain from commenting
EducationWorld for over a decade that charge Re.1 tuition fee to the on your comments relating to
now. Congratulations on your 23rd poor, which have been conveniently “institutional schism” as the matter
anniversary issue (EW November). overlooked. Time to boost the morale is sub judice. But rest assured that
I particularly like the insightful of philanthropy schools! Bunker Roy will win this round after
cover story ‘Reviving the lost art of Anjali Thomas on EMAIL having scored half a century batting
philanthropy and fundraising’. for India’s forsaken villages.
The number of HNI (high Our sample respondents were Ann Remedios on EMAIL
networth individuals) and unicorn unaware of them. Schools rated by
companies in India are multiplying less than 25 respondents are not My lament is that Barefoot College’s
rapidly as reported by several global ranked — Editor proven rural development model
wealth surveys, and the middle class hasn’t been embraced by the
having expanded to 350 million. establishment and middle class
Therefore this is an ideal time for Barefoot misconceptions India — Editor
all of us to practice philanthropy, I READ with interest your
however small, to upgrade India’s freewheeling cover feature on
education institutions into globally Barefoot College (EW August) as Excellent platform
respected institutions of learning. I had spent six months on the BC IT WAS an absolute joy when we
Narasimhan Iyengar campus as a volunteer in 2021. were informed that we have won the
MYSURU While your coverage of Barefoot’s award for #1 Philanthropic School
achievements in rural empowerment, of West Bengal, and ranked among
water, solar power, education, the Top 10 in India. We travelled to
Resonant chord environment, closely reflects intense Gurugram for the EW India School
YOUR ANNIVERSARY issue was media scrutiny of over five decades, I Rankings Awards conclave and came
information packed and insightful, observed two inaccuracies. away enriched by meeting the best
especially the four special essays According to your lead feature, school educators countrywide.
written by eminent educationists. In the “sombre golden jubilee of BC Congratulations to the EW team
particular, Dr. Sunita Gandhi’s ‘Suc- passed almost unnoticed”. On the for awarding respect and recogni-
cessful foundational learning model’ contrary, Barefoot’s golden jubilee tion to all schools, poor and rich,
struck a resonant chord. was celebrated in style in Tilonia, and providing them a platform and
I have a really good feeling about Jaipur and Delhi, and transmitted interaction opportunity.
Dr. Gandhi’s high-potential ALfA live with thousands of ‘Barefoot- Sujata Sen
(accelerated learning for all) model ers’, as we call ourselves, around the CEO, Future Hope Foundation
whose pilot programme has shown world joining virtually. KOLKATA

16 EDUCATIONWORLD DECEMBER 2022