Page 14 - EW September 2025 Final

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transformation of Indian education. offers a rigorous analysis of policy
With continued collaboration, implementation challenges. Author
clarity, and support, the promise of Sandeep Sen’s analysis that AAP un-
an inclusive, future-ready education leashed a barrage of reforms without
system is well within reach. preparing teachers and education
Pavitra Shanbhag officials to execute them is bang on.
BENGALURU AAP sacrificed depth for width.
The narrative invites constructive
reflection rather than partisan fin-
Narayana parents lament ger-pointing. Thank you for elevating
WE, PARENTS of Narayana e-Tech- the conversation around India’s K 12
no School, Yavatmal, are writing this education reform with thoughtful,
with heavy hearts. Our children have evidence based writing.
become victims of false promises Sania Khan
made by the school. DELHI
For two years, we were assured
AUGUST 2025 that the school had CBSE affilia-
tion till class X. On that basis, we Unique chance
admitted our children, trusting the YOUR EXPERT Comment essay
Yet to take off Narayana brand, and paid heavy ‘New Global education hub opportu-
THANKS FOR your well-researched fees. This year, the truth came out — nity’ (EW August) offers an optimis-
cover story ‘NEP 2020: 5 years later, the school has CBSE affiliation only tic insight into India’s evolving role
snail pace implementation’ (EW till class IX. in international higher education. At
August). I agree with the authors For the academic year 2026-27, a moment when global uncertainty —
that despite its ambitious vision, five the school is forcing parents to sign especially around the US as a study
years later, numerous programmes a consent letter that says that when destination — is prompting a shift
and schemes announced in NEP our children reach class X, they will in students’ perception, India has a
2020 are yet to take off. The root have to travel over 150 km to Nagpur unique chance to position itself as a
cause of this failure is insufficient to write their CBSE board exams compelling, credible alternative.
budgetary allocations for education. in another branch of the Narayana Our “new genre” private universi-
As you rightly point out, the govern- Group. This means that during the ties — Jindal, FLAME, Krea, Ashoka,
ment has done little to increase the most stressful and crucial time of Plaksha, Bennett, and Shiv Nadar —
annual outlay for education to 6 their lives — board exams — our chil- are already emerging as world-class
percent of GDP. dren will be uprooted from their own institutions focused on research and
NEP 2020 implementation has hometown, made to stay in hotels, interdisciplinary learning.
also been stymied by the unnec- and then expected to perform well Mira Swamy
essary resurrection of the three- in their exams. Parents who refuse CHENNAI
language formula, anathema to to sign are being threatened with
several southern states such as Tamil Transfer Certificates (TC). In short,
Nadu. Instead of becoming a point of we are trapped. Wonderful news
contention, NEP 2020 ought to have This is a warning for parents I READ with great interest (EW July)
served as a unifying charter for the countrywide – if this can happen in your information-packed Institution
Centre and states to collaborate on Yavatmal, it can happen in your city Profile section. I travel to Finland
delivering quality education for all. too. Big education brands should not quite frequently on work but was
Maria D Souza be allowed to play with our children’s unaware that Aalto University is the
KOCHI future. country’s top-ranked higher educa-
Concerned parents tion institution, and that it offers
Narayana e-Techno School, several study programmes in the
Well within reach YAVATMAL English medium.
I AM a regular reader of EW and Wonderful news for Indian
read with interest your cover story students, especially with the US,
on NEP 2020 (EW August). Though Width without depth UK, Canada and Australia tighten-
meaningful change takes time and YOUR SPECIAL Report ‘Why ing visa regulations for international
sustained effort, I believe NEP 2020 AAP government’s K-12 educa- students.
has already sparked much-needed tion reforms failed,’ (EW August) Monali Jain on EMAIL

14 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2025