Page 113 - Education World Dec 2021

rently, KSG (annual fees: Rs.24,000), lessons to 400 state board schools In 1993, he registered KAMS (As-
has 1,650 boys and girls and 95 teach- with a combined enrolment of 55,000 sociated Managements of English
ers on its muster rolls. students in Karnataka. I am confi- Medium Schools in Karnataka) which
Another BPS that has been given dent that Hybrid Vidya will remain won Supreme Court verdicts ruling
a massive endorsement by the 2,458 an enabling supplementary teaching- that parents have the right to choose
SEC (socio-economic category) ‘C- learning programme for parents in the the medium of instruction in school
E’ sample respondents specially in- post-pandemic era,” says D . S h a s h i education, and state governments
terviewed to rate the country’s most K u m a r, promoter-director of NBES, cannot arbitrarily reduce and regulate
respected BPS on 11 parameters of which had a pre-pandemic enrolment tuition and other fees levied by private
affordable school education excel- of 1,800 students and 64 teachers on schools. For his continuous advocacy
lence, is the N e w B l os s o m s Edu - its musters. of private schools and for exposing
c a tion S oc ie ty , B e n g a l u ru (NBES, Undoubtedly and to a significant corruption within the state govern-
estb.1993). Ranked #18 nationally in degree, the national and statewide ment’s education ministry and sun-
2020-21, NBES is promoted to #7 recognition that NBES has acquired dry departments, Shashi Kumar has
countrywide and #1 in Karnataka is due to the indefatigable education aroused the wrath of myriad vested
(pop.68 million). activism of Shashi Kumar, a holder of interest groups. On July 29 while driv-
“BPS don’t get any recognition from several diplomas in paramedics and ing home from work, he was waylaid
society or respect from the media. pharmacy, who starting as a school and attacked by three machete wield-
That’s why news that NBES is ranked student has acquired “over 39 years ing goons. Kumar scared them away
among India’s Top 10 BPS and #1 in of experience in school administra- by firing from his licensed revolver.
Karnataka, is very encouraging. Our tion and management” and promoted “The roots of corruption in education
teachers and staff have worked beyond NBES 28 years ago. run deep in Karnataka,” says Kumar.
the call of duty to ensure continuous Coterminously, he has evolved The EWISR 2021-22 league table of
online learning and have developed into a nationally acclaimed champion India’s most well-regarded BPS com-
our own learning platform named of private K-12 education, especially prising 629 low-priced schools is set
Hybrid Vidya which broadcasts daily budget private schools. out in the pages following.

DECEMBER 2021 EDUCATIONWORLD 113