Pramod Maheshwari – Managing director & CEO, Career Point Ltd, Kota (Rajasthan)

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

At the very top. Education is the foundation for future success of individuals and nations.

How best to upgrade government schools?

Remove red tape. Make teachers accountable for students learning outcomes.

Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha.

Your favourite Nobel laureate.

Mother Teresa. 

Your leadership style.

Participative. Leaders should lead by example.

Entrance exams coaching schools of Kota are being severely criticised for exacerbating students’ stress and suicides. What’s your comment?

I don’t agree coaching institutes are intensifying students’ stress. One needs to go deeper into this issue to understand the real challenges confronting contemporary youth. Also parent counselling is crucial especially when a child is preparing for competitive exams in which the national success rate is barely 1 percent.

Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?

Not really. I believe the education outlay is sufficient. The challenge is to utilise allocations and outlays optimally. 
 
How satisfied are you with the growth and development of Career Point group of institutions?

Fairly satisfied. But we have many miles to go. There is a lot more to be done and achieved in education.

Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India? 

Optimistic.