As chairman, on behalf of Bhoomi Education Trust and Bhoomi Public School, I’d like to comment on your lead features in the May issue. The cover story (‘Azim Premji University: Exemplary gift to Indian education’) and special report (‘RTE Act, 2009: First anniversary status report’) were timely and well-presented. Both stories should serve as eye openers to the country’s narrow-minded autocrats and bureaucrats. While we have seen Indian business-men donate generously to world renowned universities abroad, Azim Premji’s commitment to the cause of Indian education and his vision and philosophy are commendable. I hope this exemplary philanthropic gesture will set an example to those who are capable of doing but lack vision and motivation. Re the first anniversary celebrations of the RTE Act, 2009, the only cause for celebration is the Act’s completion of one year! It’s a shame that a country, which once hosted the best university in the world (Nalanda), and despite more than a century-old campaign for quality elementary education for all initiated by leaders such as Gopal Krishna Gokhale, hasn’t achieved a breakthrough in this long pending issue. Unless there is a will to act at the top level and determination at the grassroots level, universal elementary education will remain a distant dream. A determined effort by the Central, state and local governments, citizens and parents, is required to transform this elusive dream into reality. D.M. Virupaksha Swamy Chairman, Bhoomi Public School Gubbi, Tumkur Exam-oriented English Re your news report ‘China challenge tremors’ (EW May), I agree with Hema-latha Raghupathi’s observation that it is belittling English at the school level that has caused a decline in English language proficiency in Tamil Nadu. The English language syllabus is framed to “enable” pupils of Tamil medium schools in the remotest areas to pass public examinations. That is cutting feet to suit shoes! The teaching of English is wholly exam oriented rather than driven by proficiency objectives. Even in the higher secondary (Plus Two) exam, objective type questions are asked, for which no creativity is required. All this may help the education depart-ment proudly declare statistics of English learners in the state but will not help in increasing English language proficiency of its citizens. Now it’s the turn of China to overtake us and in future, if this trend continues, it may even be Kazakhstan! It’s not too late if eminent academi-cians take genuine measures to intro-duce proficiency oriented teaching-learning of English from kindergarten. But this will happen only if politicians keep their hands off the education system. P. Alwarappan Coimbatore Brilliant exposé Your cover story ‘Mr. Bumble Mukherjee’s grudging provision for public education’ (EW April) is a brilliant exposé of government and intelligentsia hypocrisy on public education. It’s shameful that the Central government’s outlay of 0.58 percent of GDP in Budget 2011-12 for education of over 500 million children and youth is being hailed as a huge commitment by the finance minister. Even the meagre sum aggregating Rs.350,000 crore per year is being thrown down the deep black hole of public education with nothing to show by way of improved…
