I read your cover story ‘Blueprint of a supplementary budget for primary education’ (EW April) with avid interest. Dilip Thakore and Prof. A.S. Seetharamu deserve the thanks of the nation for formulating a supplementary budget for revolutionising primary education. In his election-eve Budget 2008-09, finance minister P. Chidambaram was too pre-occupied with sops for the agricul-tural sector to concentrate on providing for India’s ramshackle primary schools. 

However while there’s no denying that lab-lib-lav facilities are absolutely necessary for a quality school experience, it’s also important to make provision for teacher training and curriculum development in government primary schools. Several surveys have shown that learning outcomes in government primaries are abysmal with most class III students unable to even write their names correctly. Academic infrastructure needs to be supplemented with strong teacher training and monitoring programmes to ensure that actual learning happens in schools. Just as higher student enrollment doesn’t translate into better learning outcomes, providing libraries and laboratories will not necessarily ensure students will actually benefit from them. 
Sheela Ravindran
Bangalore

Public-private partnerships call

Providing a laboratory-library-lavatory to every government elementary school is an excellent idea (EW April). In fact EducationWorld should campaign for it to be incorporated into the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme, which is funded by both Central and state governments and hence the cost of building labs, libraries and lavatories can be shared. Moreover since education officials are already monitoring the progress of the SSA programme countrywide, they can be given additional charge of ensuring that every school is well-equipped.

I strongly believe that corporates and philanthropists must also get involved in reviving India’s collapsing primary education system. Since the unit cost of a girls’ toilet is a mere Rs.25,000, a library Rs.1 lakh and laboratory Rs.2 lakh, local businessmen must come forward to fund these facilities in government schools. In return the government could provide them tax breaks. 

It’s wishful thinking to believe that government will find the money to action the lab-lib-lav project proposal. The only way it can succeed is through public-private partnerships.
Rajiv Sinha
Delhi

Developing reading habits

Your special report ‘Summer vacation reading for teachers’ (EW April) made wonderful reading. The platter of books suggested comprises a balanced mix of fiction and non-fiction, and the best part is that the reading list comes from seasoned education professionals.

A teacher by profession, I fully agree that teachers today hardly read books other than those prescribed in the syllabus. But it’s imperative that they develop the habit of reading because they have the potential to influence students’ attitudes towards reading.

The recommended reading lists will not only help teachers add to their pool of knowledge, but will also help them realise the difference they can make in the teaching-learning process. However, a teacher should always bear in mind that “books, like friends, should be few and well chosen”.
Shiv Subramaniam
Chennai

Where parents can help

In his excellent column ‘Learning to become a point parent” (EW April), George Selleck lists some qualities parents must develop to enable them to influence their children and sports communities in positive ways. Truly, in a game the real magic begins when players play as a team.

For a child who takes an avid interest in sports, nothing is more encouraging than parents taking interest in the game she plays. Parents need to understand that games are not all about competition and winning but about participating. Only then will they be able to positively contribute to their children’s sports experiences.

To play in teams, children need to learn how to build team spirit and this is where parents can help. They should encourage their child to play as a team member rather than as an individual.
Shanti Sinha
Mumbai

Celebrating teachers

This letter is to express my deep appreciation for your magazine. In particular the issue featuring the TCS-EW Teachers Awards (EW February) was very informative. The articles are well written and from myriad areas of interest. As a teacher educator at GVM College of Education in Goa, it was immensely satisfying to see teachers’ contributions being duly acknowledged and celebrated. 

Awards for teachers are a rarity with everyone wanting to sponsor awards for singers, dancers, and actors. Teachers are expected to perform par excellence with no desire for appreciation and reward. The TCS-EW awards are a welcome gesture for the truly deserving teachers’ community.
Dr. Anna Neena George
Ponda (Goa) 

Great advice

In the natural health column ‘Dining out carefully’ (EW March), Kavita Mukhi writes ‘Eat to live and don’t live to eat!’ ‘Junk food makes junk health’. This is sound advice. One should lay stress on quality of food rather than quantity. As far as possible, we should eat freshly cooked food which is the healthiest of all, and avoid over-eating. In fact to stay in fine fettle, one should eat less than one’s appetite.
Mahesh Kumar
Delhi