Page 10 - EducationWorld May 2021

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post-pandemic school education by Inspiring young idealist
Sahle-Work Zewde, chairperson of I AM A regular reader of EW, espe-
the International Commission on the cially your Young Achiever section. It
Futures of Education, are excellent. was a delight to read about Radhika
They should be urgently adopted Ghetiya and her recent 12-medal
by the Indian government. haul for topping the B.Sc (Agricul-
Malia Bhattacharya ture Hons) final exam of Anand
DELHI Agricultural University. There’s hope
for this country as long as there are
young idealists like Radhika ready
Brilliant initiative to serve in rural India and revolutio-
YOUR SPECIAL Report ‘CENTA nise agri-farming practices. Kudos
TPO 2020: Growing enthusiasm for Radhika!
teacher development’ (EW April) is Bihu Aggarwal
a timely celebration of private and AHMEDABAD
government school teachers who
APRIL 2021 have risen to the challenges of con-
ducting online classes amid the rag- Doomed democracy
ing Coronavirus pandemic. Teachers I ENJOYED reading the brilliantly
Disgraceful indifference have indeed emerged as the heroes of argued essay of Dr. Shiv Visvanathan
THANKS FOR YOUR hard-hitting the past few months by readily and about Prof. Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s
cover story ‘3-prong assault on enthusiastically stepping up to the exit from Ashoka University (EW
private schools’ (EW April). India’s challenge of providing remote virtual April). Academic freedom is indeed
high-performance private schools are teaching to children. under grave threat in India with the
indeed under siege! The indifference Congratulations to CENTA for ruling dispensation clamping down
of the Central and state governments its brilliant Teaching Professionals on all dissent within universities —
to the financial crisis confronting Olympiad (TPO) initiative. All the whether by faculty or students. But
private — especially budget private award winning teachers have heaped as Visvanathan highlights, dissent
school — promoters and manage- praise on the test for evaluating is normative in every university
ments is shocking and disgraceful. teachers’ subject expertise as well as system.
The Centre should have included capability to manage classrooms and If faculty and students are not al-
private schools as MSMEs in its pan- implement innovative pedagogies. I lowed to question, argue and dissent
demic relief package qualifying them salute Ramya Venkatraman who sac- within universities, India’s democ-
for bank loans, interest moratoriums rificed a lucrative corporate career racy is doomed.
and other benefits. to promote CENTA with the mission Suman Banerjee
As you rightly say, the world over of providing the nation high-quality KOLKATA
governments have provided gener- teachers.
ous grants and soft loans to schools Rimlee Das
and direct benefit transfers to poor BENGALURU Wrong photograph
households to maintain the nutrition YOU HAVE PRINTED the wrong
and learning continuity of children. photo of Saurabh Mundra (p.66)
It’s time our callous politicians begin Entrepreneurial mindsets in your April special report on the
to acknowledge the role and contri- I AM IN full agreement with Saro- CENTA TPO winners. I’m the winner
bution of private education in the jini Rao, author of your Teacher- of the middle school maths olympiad
national development effort. 2-Teacher column (EW April) about and was looking forward to being
Maria Gonsalves the need to build entrepreneurial featured in your story. I had sent my
PUNE mindsets within children and youth. correct photograph in all the sup-
I run a small family business and porting mails.
I believe the distinguishing factor I request you to rectify this error
Excellent suggestions of any successful entrepreneur is and use my correct photograph.

I WAS ALARMED to read about her ability to communicate, solve Saurabh Mundra on E-MAIL
the extent of learning loss suffered problems, think creatively and build
by India’s school-going children in self-confidence and resilience. We regret this error. Your photo is
your cover story (EW April). The Seema Suri now featured on www.education-
nine recommendations for reviving GURUGRAM world.in — Editor

10 EDUCATIONWORLD MAY 2021