An alumna of Bombay and Delhi universities with certification in leadership and counselling from Harvard University and UCLA (USA), Dr. Revathi Srinivasan is director and principal of the CISCE-affiliated Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane (Mumbai), which has an aggregate enrolment of 6,500 students mentored by 360 teachers.

Are you satisfied with the Union Budget 2018-19 allocation of Rs.85,010 crore for education?

This year’s budget gives a big boost to school and higher education. It is a positive step towards providing quality education for every child. I welcome the focus on research and development in higher education, which has always been a weak spot. The integrated B.Ed programme with emphasis on harnessing technology in teaching will also greatly improve quality of education.

What is your solution to upgrading board syllabuses and curriculums and textbooks to produce students ready for the 21st century job market?

In my opinion, a strong foundation for building the future lies in developing knowledge, attitudes, skills and habits (KASH). Vocational education, rural immersion and entrepreneurship programmes integrated into the curriculum will skill students for 21st century jobs. Additionally, I recommend an applications-based assessment system to help teachers measure age-appropriate learning outcomes.

What are your Top 3 suggestions for reforming K-12 education?

• Consistently high-performing schools should be given autonomous status — freedom of curriculum, classroom transactions/delivery and assessments — and their certification should be accepted by all universities. This will encourage schools to improve the quality of education and help them to rethink and redesign their curriculums.

• Do away with subjects learning and introduce inter-disciplinary and skills-based curriculums. Introduce vocational education in all schools.

• Preschools should be barred from admitting children below three years of age. Today, there are centres that admit toddlers as young as 18 months. On similar lines, coaching classes and integrated programmes in schools for test preparation should be banned.

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