AK Agarwal, Director, MDN Edify Education
Right at the top. Quality and affordable education is the right of every child and the responsibility of every abled individual and organisation.
How best to upgrade government schools?
Contribution by all corporates towards infrastructure development; public-private partnerships for management of academics and operations of schools. Trained and empowered faculty.
Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Mahatma Gandhi. His philosophy is perfect for a peaceful, happy and successful life.
Your favourite educationist.
Gulab Ramchandani, former headmaster of the Doon School, Dehradun. This great yet humble man inspired me to formulate my vision for education.
Your leadership style.
Participative. Everybody in every organisation has his/her strengths. My job is to identify and pool talent.
Your favourite book on leadership.
5 Levels of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. Also Good to Great by Jim Collins.
For or against the RTE Act mandating 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
For. But against RTE Act’s no detention and automatic promotion provisions.
Should education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
If the budget allotted for education is used efficiently, our government school system would be one of the best worldwide.
How satisfied are you with the growth and development of Edify Group of institutions?
We have made a good beginning. In less than a decade we have established a chain with 200 entrepreneurs, 20,000 teachers and 100,000 students.
Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of Indian education?
Optimistic. The youth of this country are highly focused and understand the importance of quality education.
Recommended: Cover story contd: 51 New Millennium Edupreneurs