Page 10 - EducationWorld Oct 2021

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ment to revitalise Indian education is Mounting apprehension
justified. ‘UNWARRANTED HASTE’ (Educa-
Our new Union education tion News, EW September) clearly
minister Dharmendra Pradhan reflects the chaos and confusion in
has been appointed at a time Karnataka, flaunted as the first state
when Indian education is facing of the Indian Union to implement
a dual crisis — repairing huge NEP 2020. I am a science student
damage suffered during the past who has just completed Plus Two
60 weeks of pandemic lockdown, and aspire to study humanities with
and implementing the National specialisation in English. Rather
Education Policy (NEP) 2020. than being enthusiastic about start-
This means he has more hurdles to ing my undergraduate degree, my
surmount than his predecessors. apprehensions are mounting.
If the honourable minister per- My admission in one of Mysuru’s
sists on declining “repeated requests reputed degree colleges was assured
for interviews” of India’s #1 educa- before NEP implementation became
SEPTEMBER 2021 tion newsmagazine, the least he can official. Since the announcement,
do is to heed expert advice from like many others I am now unsure
some of the country’s most knowl- about the validity of my admission,
Well-intended saviour edgeable and successful education availability of preferred subjects,
I AM A regular reader of Educa- leaders to help overcome the formi- etc. Although the admissions issue
tionWorld. After reading your dable challenges that confront him. has since been resolved, we are still
cover story (EW September), I am I hope the minister reads, even if he unaware of available subject options.
surprised you are in such a hurry to doesn’t speak! In all this confusion, the Karnataka
pass judgement about an education Ashwin Gharote government has turned a blind eye to
minister who has just taken charge. PUNE the urgent need for student counsel-
Rather than question his abilities ling on NEP 2020 reforms.
a month after being appointed Union I hope all state governments will
education minister, we must extend Indomitable evangelists wake up and start implementing
all support to the man and give him a CONGRATULATIONS FOR an inspi- NEP in true letter and spirit, keep-
chance to ideate and innovate in a far rational Special Report ‘Rural India’s ing in mind the best interests of the
from easy pandemic world. Rurban Saviours’ (EW, September) students community.
I follow the minister on Twitter highlighting the selfless work being Rohini Shashidhar
and I know for a fact that he actively done by education evangelists in ru- MYSURU
participates in multiple webinars, ral India to ensure learning continu-
consulting with experts from Indian ity of children during the pandemic.
education. I believe he has good In particular, it was interesting Words of appreciation
intentions and may just be the sav- to read about Ashish Kumar Shriv- IT WAS heartening to read about
iour that Indian education has been astava who quit his high profile early childhood education provider
looking for. corporate career to promote Shik- Klay Preschools & Daycare’s several
Muralidhar Rao sharth, an NGO in the Sukma district innovations to keep the flame of
INDORE of Chhattisgarh state which has learning alive among our youngest
positively impacted 30,000 tribal learners in your People column (EW
children. Shrivastava’s indomitable September). NEP 2020 has belatedly
Heed expert advice! spirit is more than commendable for accorded prime importance to early
I READ YOUR detailed cover story braving the challenges of working in childhood care and education which
‘Can this man revive India’s shat- the Naxal-hit region, dodging police has been grossly neglected thus far.
tered education system? (EW, and Naxal bullets. Therefore, the Kare@Home ECCE
September) with deep interest. I fully Equally exemplary are the lives of initiative delivered by Klay teachers
endorse your view that modernisa- education missionaries Sujata Sahu to 4,000 households across India is
tion of India’s education system has in Ladakh and Lokesh Kalal in Kher- exemplary.
never been a priority of the ruling wara, Rajasthan. Total respect to these frontline
BJP/NDA government at the Centre May their tribe increase! workers!
or in the states. Your scepticism Ranjan Sen Bindu Ayyar
about the capability of the govern- KOLKATA BENGALURU

10 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2021