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to avoid the minimalist approach to March) should be read by all educa-
early childhood education, focus on tors. Lina Ashar succinctly highlights
literacy, numeracy, social-emotional the potential of conscious learn-
development, science, simple tech- ing not only to enhance children’s
nology, creativity and parental in- academic performance but to also
volvement. Focus on teacher training develop their emotional intelligence.
institutions is also required to ensure I agree with her that children
teachers are highly proficient in the gifted with good mental health and
planning, delivery and evaluation of emotional intelligence are better
courses. Professional development equipped to face the challenges of an
needs to ensure high impact teaching unpredictable world.
skills. Nithin Kamath
Schools, colleges and universities BENGALURU
need to become pro-active. Delays
are inevitable with new govern-
ments. But change happens when Brave heart teachers
MARCH 2024 a few people, with determination, I AM a retired schoolteacher and a
bring vision to transform reality. regular reader of EW. Much as I love
Lionel Cranenburgh reading your People profiles, I must
Promising times ahead! Silver Medal for Service to admit I rarely see stories on teacher
YOUR COVER story ‘Modi govern- Education Awardee, AUSTRALIA brave hearts, who have gone beyond
ment’s education report card 2014- the call of duty to further the cause of
24’ (EW March) offers a refreshing education.
perspective on the NaMo govern- Improve rural education Recently, I read in the newspapers
ment’s performance in the education AGAINST THE backdrop of the about teachers trudging for miles
sector. latest protest by lakhs of farmers on in rainy weather to teach a group of
I agree with Prof. Rishikesh’s the Punjab-Haryana border, your children while others were doling out
views that over the past decade of insightful Special Report ‘India’s incentives from their pockets to keep
BJP rule at the Centre, education has colonisation of Bharat — Liberating children studying in school.
received high visibility with the long Rural India’ (EW March) certainly Karnika Sarkar
overdue introduction of the National made the point that all it takes to SHILLONG
Education Policy 2020, and the sub- give rural India’s farmers a better
sequent National Curriculum Frame- deal are a few policy tweaks and
works for the Foundational Stage willingness of the urban middle class Awesome architect
and School Education. Promising to pay fair prices for agricultural I AM in complete awe of young
times ahead for Indian education! produce. ‘architect’ Arnav Daga, who was
Umesh Kumar The fact that millions of ill- profiled in your interesting ‘Young
CHENNAI educated rural youth are pouring Achievers’ column (EW March).
into urban cities as low-paid migrant Undeterred by collapsing card tow-
labour is a wake-up call to the gov- ers to begin afresh, Arnav’s grit,
Must-read analysis ernment to pay greater attention to determination and perseverance are
YOUR LATEST cover story ‘Modi public education in agrarian India. exemplary. Therefore, his entry into
government’s education report card Delivering high-quality education in Guinness World Records is well-
2014-24’ is a must-read (EW March). rural backwaters is the only way to deserved.
Summiya Yasmeen’s analysis of bridge the India-Bharat divide. Refreshingly, your story also
the BJP government’s performance Hridya Gupta highlights the nuances of support-
over the past decade is bold, bal- INDORE ive parenting. Allowing children to
anced and probing. Progress is engage in extra-curricular activities
comparative, not to be judged by without putting additional pressure
already low standards of attainment, Emotional intelligence call to do well in academics builds their
but measured against performance ESPECIALLY AT a time when chil- all-round personality. Parents need
in fast-track overseas countries, to dren’s lives are being disrupted by to be encouraging and supportive of
close the gap. ubiquitous internet and social media, children’s non-academic talents.
I believe the top education priori- your Teacher-2-Teacher essay ‘Intro- Chandrashekar Rao
ties of the new government should be duction to conscious learning’ (EW HYDERABAD

12 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2024