An alum of Stony Brook University, New York, Siddharth Singh is the youthful principal-director of the CBSE (Delhi) and CAIE (UK)-affiliated Emerald Heights International School, Indore (EHIS, estb.1982) which has 4,000 students and 250 teachers on its muster rolls. He also serves on the board of American Field Service (India) and Round Square India. 

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

Less than satisfied. However, the government has taken some laudable initiatives and a few positive outcomes can be seen in terms of improved teacher attendance in government schools. In my opinion, the budget doesn’t really matter until and unless we are able to introduce accountability into the government machinery. The government needs to ensure there’s universal access to school education and minimum levels of learning are guaranteed across the country. 

Against the backdrop of a spate of tragic incidents being reported in schools, what are your solutions for ensuring child safety in schools?

We need to ensure that regular school safety checks and audits are conducted by neutral third parties. However, I feel no matter what school managements do, we still have a risk factor associated with this profession. 

What are your Top 5 suggestions for reforming K-12 education?

• Empower the rural public education system to stem migration to urban India.

• Promote vocational higher education institutions.

• Set minimum learning outcomes for school and higher education.

• Switch to a more holistic system to select and admit students into higher education institutions.

• Encourage private investment in education.