Renita Handa, Founder, Redbricks Education Foundation, Ahmedabad

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
Universal education develops precious human capital. It should be the top national priority. 

How best to upgrade 1.6 million government anganwadis to preschools?
Government could encourage public-private partnerships and enable NGOs and private educationists to adopt anganwadis. This will also create responsible private providers of early childhood care and education. 

Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
John Dewey.

Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Kailash Satyarthi for his sustained campaign against child labour. 

Your leadership style.
I believe in a hands-on participative leadership style. The leader should have a clear vision and communicate it to all stakeholders. 

Your favourite book on education.
Top Dog by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman on the science of competition, and John Dewey’s Experience and Education.

For or against 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private preschools?
For. It is our collective responsibility to provide stimulating environments to all children to build a better future for our nation. 

Should education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
I would prefer not to comment on how the Union budget should be framed. However, the question we need to ask is, whether we are really making efficient use of current education outlays. 

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of the Redbricks Education Foundation?
Within a span of few years, Redbricks has developed into one of the best pre-primary and K-12 education providers in Gujarat. But there is much more to do.

Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India? 
Optimistic. Education has emerged as the #1 item on the national agenda.