Jairaj Thacker – Managing trustee, Narsee Monjee Educational Trust (Jamnabai Narsee Group of Schools), Mumbai

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?

Demographics indicate that citizens under 25 are a majority of India’s population. Therefore education should be the top national priority. 

How best to upgrade government schools?

Government should set up a committee of educationists to draw up a plan to upgrade government schools. Public-private partnerships will also improve government schools.

Your favourite Nobel laureate.

Rudyard Kipling, Mother Teresa.
Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.

Swami Vivekananda.

Your leadership style.

Participative and transformational.

Your favourite book on education. 

Minds for the Future by Dr. Howard Gardner.

For or against the RTE Act’s 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in 
private schools?

Underprivileged children must be given equal opportunity. Upgrading government schools and/or the PPP model suggested above is the answer. 

Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?

Education outlay should not be increased at the expense of defence expenditure. There are other creative ways to increase the national education budget. 

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of the Jamnabai Narsee Group of three schools?

We are satisfied with our excellent track record. As we complete 45 years in 2016, we have the third generation of some families in our schools.

Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India?

Very optimistic. With a growing number of private and public schools using new digital technologies with enthusiasm and creativity, there’s cause for optimism.