Page 16 - EducationWorld September 2020

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only critiques the Centre’s overdue socio-economically under-privileged
blueprint for reviving India’s lacka- students.
daisical education system, but also With schools now closed for over
highlights the hurdles in implement- six months, millions of children and
ing its proposals. youth from poor households have
I believe the biggest roadblock to not been able to access online educa-
implementing NEP 2020 is absence tion. The government needs to step
of a funds mobilisation strategy. in and provide digital gadgets and
With the Covid-19 pandemic having Internet connectivity to enable them
devastated the economy, the Central to continue their education.
and state governments are highly Ramprasad Rathore
unlikely to increase budgetary DELHI
allocation for education for at least
the next three years. And unless
public spending on education is Heed education leaders!
raised to 6 percent of GDP, the THE EXCELLENT recommenda-
AUGUST 2020 visionary NEP charter will remain a tions of school leaders to reinvent
pipe dream. K-12 education in the post-Covid era
Bharati Chiplunk ar on EMAIL are well-timed (EW August). These
reform proposals are more than wel-
Dr. KR’s high hopes come at a time when the country’s
THANK YOU FOR the August issue Trust-but-verify model 1.5 million schools — shuttered since
of EducationWorld. Your own take I ENJOYED reading your insight- early March following the Covid-19
on NEP 2020 deserves compliments ful cover story on NEP 2020 (EW outbreak with little prospect of open-
for its balanced assessment and August). I agree with you that the ing before October — are struggling
objectivity. NEP 2020 has failed to address the to ensure learning continuity for 256
The concern over implementa- main challenges of Indian education million children.
tion, which many people have views — excessive bureaucracy, under- To tide over this unprecedented
on, is to some extent a challenge, funding and over-zealous monitoring educational crisis, the Centre and
but not impossible for a country of of private education institutions. states would do well to heed the
our capability. A big breakthrough Although the policy has substan- advice of these education leaders and
in education is a must. We have to tially accepted the Dr. K. Kasturiran- draw on their expertise to provide
overcome all bottlenecks, challenges gan Committee’s recommendations, remote learning to children.
and constraints with determina- we need to wait and watch whether Bab y Singh
tion and courage of conviction. We government ensures the success- CHENNAI
should certainly come out of the ful implementation of NEP 2020 in
conventional way of thinking and letter and spirit. I hope they follow
working. your prudent advice and establish a Corrigendum
The many stalwarts of education governance framework of the trust- IN THE SPECIAL Report ‘25
you have featured in this issue and but-verify model. leaders reinventing K-12 education’
the previous one, speak volumes Sonali A garw al (EW August), Dr. Amrita Vohra,
about Indian talent. I have high BANGALORE director, GEMS (Education) India,
hopes, thanks to the type of new gen- was inadvertently described as an
eration entrepreneurs and other pro- education postgraduate of Himachal
fessionals we have in this country. Digital divide solution Pradesh University with a doctorate
Dr. K . K asturirangan THE SPECIAL Essay ‘Online in educational psychology from the
Chairman, NEP Draft 2020 teaching-learning blindspots’ (EW Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya
Committee, Bangalore August) by Rahul Singh exposed the University, Jabalpur. Please note
country’s woeful digital infrastruc- Dr. Amrita Vohra is an alumna
ture and poor Internet connectivity. of Lucknow University and a
Money worries As a parent, I second Mr. Singh’s Programme Leader for Teacher
I APPLAUD your well-researched appeal to the government to make Professional Development and
cover story ‘National Education Poli- provision within its Rs.20 lakh crore Educational Leadership certified by
cy 2020: Visionary charter; educracy economy stimulus package, for pro- Cambridge University (UK).
shadow’ (EW August), which not viding smart phones and tablets for The error is regretted — Editor

16 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2020