Ashok Wasu, Founder-director, Summer Valley Group of Schools, Dehradun

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
Education is core to creating a capable and vibrant India and to bring about economic and social transformation.

How best to upgrade government schools?
Ensure adequate quality manpower supported by continuous teacher training and new technologies implementation.

Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Swami Vivekananda and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. 

Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Rabindranath Tagore and Dr. Hargobind Khorana who won the Nobel Prize for medicine.

Your leadership style.
I believe in leading and learning by collaboration and including everyone in the decision-making process.
 
Your favourite book on education.
How People Learn by John D. Bransford.  It’s a must-read for all teachers. 

For or against the RTE Act’s 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
Children should be sent to private schools only if government schools cannot accommodate them.

Also read: Why the RTE act should be scrapped

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of the Summer Valley Group of schools?
It is hard to ever be satisfied with the growth and development of education institutions. But we’re moving in the right direction.

Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India?
These are good times for education. Great technological advances are happening, there are new subjects, career paths and many qualified people to teach, and so much talent.  I am very optimistic.