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Special Report

Saad Sait education, training, qualifications.
• Increase government spending and
Executive Director, Legacy School, Bangalore investment in education to address
issues of access, equity, literacy,
aad Sait is board member and digital and education divide.
executive director of the Cam- • Reduce barriers to entry and pro-
Sbridge International and IB- vide economic incentives to attract
affiliated Legacy School, Bangalore, greater investment in education.
ranked Karnataka’s #1 international
day school in EWISR 2019-20. Sait, Dr. Vidhukesh Vimal
who recently completed certifi-
cate courses in ‘Leading Change in Headmaster, Assam Valley School, Balipara
Education’ and ‘Leading Schools’ n alum of Delhi University
from Harvard Business School and and Jamia Millia Islamia Uni-
Harvard Graduate School of Educa- Aversity with certification in
tion, is also co-founder of the state- school management and leadership
of-the-art Kai Early Years, an IB-PYP from University College, London and
candidate school in Bangalore. the Harvard Graduate School of Edu-
NEP 2020 overview. NEP 2020 has to educate the children and youth cation, Dr. Vidhukesh Vimal served
given belated recognition and high of this country. These notifications with the Doon School, Dehradun
importance to early childhood educa- are unwarranted, and detrimental and Mayo College, Ajmer prior to his
tion. India stands to benefit greatly for future generations. When such appointment as headmaster of the
by investing in nurturing its human decisions are taken without consult- Assam Valley School, Balipara (AVS)
and intellectual capital from the ing key stakeholders, they adversely last September. Routinely ranked
early years. However, a challenge, impact the viability and ability of pri- among India’s Top 5 co-ed boarding
and very likely contentious issue, vate schools to continue to provide schools in the annual EWISR, AVS
is to teach children in their mother quality education. has an enrolment of 817 students
tongue at the primary level, possibly and 104 teachers on its musters.
till class VIII. Also, a significant void Legacy School major initiatives. We What is your overview of the recently
in the policy is lack of recognition of have been very intentional in nurtur- released NEP 2020?
the role and contribution of private ing a culture of ongoing learning NEP 2020 should be examined
schools and institutions. The biggest under our Learn-Reflect-Discover- from three perspectives — context,
challenges that confront NEP 2020 Evolve philosophy, learning for life challenge and aspirations of citizens
are the regulatory mechanism for and life-long learning. This approach of this country. When we look back
K-12 schools, bureaucracy, allocation and attitude has helped us make an to the Yashpal Committee and NPE
of financial resources, lack of trained easy transition to online teaching 1986, the prime challenge before
teachers and political will to ensure it and learning. then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi
is well implemented. Six years ago, we began integrat-
ing technology to improve teaching was to ensure every child attended
Switch of K-12 schools to online/blend- and learning, and to develop future school. Hence Operation Blackboard
ed learning during the current Covid-19 skills for the 22nd century using the was launched. The prime objective
crisis. Digital learning is the next best Apple ecosystem and framework. of NEP 2020 is to guarantee quality
alternative for children during the Our teachers are now more focussed education and enhance employabil-
current crisis. We believe that devel- on innovating technology to engage ity, hence the emphasis on vocational
opmentally appropriate practices, students meaningfully in online education.
rooted in research and proven prac- learning. Moreover, we have contin-
tice, combined with the judicious use ued to invest significantly in differ-
of technology, supported by ongo- entiated professional development
ing professional development, can opportunities offered by world-class
support our children’s well-being, universities and organisations such
learning and development during as Harvard, Cambridge and the In-
this global pandemic era. ternational Baccalaureate to support
our teachers.
Fallout of increasing government
interference in fees and online educa- Top 3 proposals for re-inventing India’s
tion delivery of private schools. Several K-12 education system.
state governments have issued arbi- • Define a clear vision for quality
trary orders to ban online learning. education in India from the early
These ill-advised diktats are coun- years to university. Articulate clear
terproductive for national socio-eco- objectives and develop systems and
nomic development. In India, private frameworks on a par with interna-
schools have shouldered a large part tional standards in the areas of policy
of the government’s responsibility and governance, funding and teacher

76 EDUCATIONWORLD AUGUST 2020