Page 49 - EducationWorld June 2020

Dr. Nissar Ahmed
Chairman, Presidency Group of Institutions, Bangalore

r. Nissar Ahmed is chairman of the Bangalore-based
Presidency Group of Institutions (PGI, estb.1976)
Dwhich comprise seven CBSE/CISCE-affiliated schools,
three undergrad/postgrad colleges and Presidency Universi-
ty, Bangalore, with an aggregate 25,000 students and 1,300
teachers.
PGI’s Covid-19 response. After the mandated closure of our
institutions in mid-March, we immediately began preparing
to take teaching-learning to the online mode with faculty
receiving intensive training in digital skills and pedagogies.
Online classes commenced in end March and have proved
a success. Credit for this success story should also accrue to
our parents who
belittle not only teachers and schools but the impor- extended full sup-
tance of education. port by creating
What are your Top 3 proposals for reviving and reforming supportive home
K-12 education in India? environments to
The quality of teacher training in B.Ed institutions facilitate smooth
is pathetic. Therefore, establishment of excellent, transition to digi-
globally benchmarked teacher training institutions tal learning.
on the IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) model Major challenges
should be a national priority. In the post-Covid sce- confronting Indian
nario, it has become a greater imperative to produce education in the Co-
teachers equipped to prepare children to succeed in vid era. Most par-
the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambigu- ents don’t want
ous) age that is already upon us. to send their chil-
Secondly, government, school examination dren, especially to
boards and all stakeholders in K-12 education, need kindergarten and
to press for a shift from acquisition of knowledge to primary school.
application of learning. For this, we need to re- School managements need to win parents’ confidence by
form the examination system to reward this type of creating safe learning environments for children. Moreover,
teaching-learning. there’s the big challenge of poor Internet connectivity and
And finally, government, society and education access to digital devices.
stakeholders need to pull out all stops to attract
intelligent and competent individuals to the teach- State government fee waiver/deferment circulars to private school
ing profession. Teachers must be respected and paid managements. Government should have weighed the ground
well. For this to happen, education has to move to realities of private education before issuing these circulars.
the top of the national development agenda. All private schools are dependent on fees for paying teach-
ers salaries and other capex and opex expenses. And the
In light of your long experience as principal of the high- Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected their cash flow.
ranked Welham Boys, what will be the differentiating
characteristics of DPS, Rajpura? Top 3 proposals for reforming higher education in India.
I had the privilege of leading the nationally re- The draft National Education Policy 2019 has made some
spected WBS for almost nine years during which the important recommendations for reforming the higher educa-
school moved from strength to strength, and I have tion system. My proposals:
evolved as a school leader. Given the benefit of my Deregulation. The government should deregulate higher
long experience in K-12 education, I am confident education, encourage promotion of private higher education
DPS, Rajpura will be a progressive, forward think- institutions and grant them full autonomy
ing school. We intend to create a vibrant and happy Syllabus and curriculum reform. Universities should
learning environment, encouraging and empowering be incentivised to offer new-age programmes and invest in
students and faculty to become the best version of research and development
themselves and live lives of optimism and well- Quality assurance. Government must ensure all higher
being. We will do all that’s needed to adapt the best education institutions provide acceptable quality tertiary
practices from schools that I have had the honour to education and enabling infrastructure.
lead. DPS, Rajpura’s core values have been adopted Future plans. Our main focus right now is to tide over the
from the discovery framework of the London-based Covid-19 crisis and ensure our campuses are compliant with
Round Square Association of the world’s best the health and safety norms prescribed by WHO and govern-
schools which also accord high priority to sports ment.
education.

JUNE 2020 EDUCATIONWORLD 49