I am a regular reader of EducationWorld. After reading your cover story (EW September), I am surprised you are in such a hurry to pass judgement about an education minister who has just taken charge.

Rather than question his abilities a month after being appointed Union education minister, we must extend all support to the man and give him a chance to ideate and innovate in a far from easy pandemic world.

I follow the minister on Twitter and I know for a fact that he actively participates in multiple webinars, consulting with experts from Indian education. I believe he has good intentions and may just be the saviour that Indian education has been looking for.

Muralidhar Rao

Indore

Heed expert advice!

I read your detailed cover story ‘Can this man revive India’s shattered education system? (EW, September) with deep interest. I fully endorse your view that modernisation of India’s education system has never been a priority of the ruling BJP/NDA government at the Centre or in the states. Your scepticism about the capability of the government to revitalise Indian education is justified.

Our new Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has been appointed at a time when Indian education is facing a dual crisis — repairing huge damage suffered during the past 60 weeks of pandemic lockdown, and implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This means he has more hurdles to surmount than his predecessors.

If the honourable minister persists on declining “repeated requests for interviews” of India’s #1 education newsmagazine, the least he can do is to heed expert advice from some of the country’s most knowledgeable and successful education leaders to help overcome the formidable challenges that confront him. I hope the minister reads, even if he doesn’t speak!

Ashwin Gharote

Pune

Indomitable evangelists

Congratulations for an inspirational Special Report ‘Rural India’s Rurban Saviours’ (EW, September) highlighting the selfless work being done by education evangelists in rural India to ensure learning continuity of children during the pandemic.

 In particular, it was interesting to read about Ashish Kumar Shrivastava who quit his high profile corporate career to promote Shiksharth, an NGO in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh state which has positively impacted 30,000 tribal children. Shrivastava’s indomitable spirit is more than commendable for braving the challenges of working in the Naxal-hit region, dodging police and Naxal bullets.

Equally exemplary are the lives of education missionaries Sujata Sahu in Ladakh and Lokesh Kalal in Kherwara, Rajasthan.

May their tribe increase!

Ranjan Sen

Kolkata

Mounting apprehension

‘Unwarranted Haste’ (Education News, EW September) clearly reflects the chaos and confusion in Karnataka, flaunted as the first state of the Indian Union to implement NEP 2020. I am a science student who has just completed Plus Two and aspire to study humanities with specialisation in English. Rather than being enthusiastic about starting my undergraduate degree, my apprehensions are mounting.

My admission in one of Mysuru’s reputed degree colleges was assured before NEP implementation became official. Since the announcement, like many others I am now unsure about the validity of my admission, availability of preferred subjects, etc. Although the admissions issue has since been resolved, we are still unaware of available subject options. In all this confusion, the Karnataka government has turned a blind eye to the urgent need for student counselling on NEP 2020 reforms.

I hope all state governments will wake up and start implementing NEP in true letter and spirit, keeping in mind the best interests of the students community.

Rohini Shashidhar

Mysuru

Words of appreciation

It was heartening to read about early childhood education provider Klay Preschools & Daycare’s several innovations to keep the flame of learning alive among our youngest learners in your People column (EW September). NEP 2020 has belatedly accorded prime importance to early childhood care and education which has been grossly neglected thus far. Therefore, the Kare@Home ECCE initiative delivered by Klay teachers to 4,000 households across India is exemplary.

Total respect to these frontline workers!

Bindu Ayyar

Bengaluru