Bijoy K Sahoo, Chairman, SAI International School, Bhubaneswar

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
Topmost. I honestly believe national development worldwide is directly related to education. 

How best to upgrade government schools?
By awarding grants on the basis of performance measured by standardised national/state tests at several levels and overall institutional performance. 

Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Dr. Howard Gardner for his Theory of Multiple Intelligences. 

Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Guru Rabindranath Tagore.

Your leadership style.
I don’t believe in leading, but in mentoring. This is the prescription for creating future leaders.

Your favourite book on leadership.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.

For or against the RTE Act mandating 25 percent reservation for under-privileged children in private schools?
For. It provides an opportunity for children who would otherwise have been excluded, to avail quality private education. 

Also read: Why the RTE act should be scrapped

Should education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
No. A better alternative for increasing government outlays for education is by targeting subsidies. Private participation in education is crucial as it brings substantial investment into the sector.

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of SAI International School?
Emotionally satisfied and truly happy! I gave up my profession as a chartered accountant to fulfill my dream to build SAI International School. In a short span of four years, SAI has achieved national and international acclaim. 

Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of Indian education?
Very optimistic. I see India emerging as a global player in the education sector. It’s only a matter of time.