Complex task

I read your latest issue featuring the ‘Leadership mantras of 28 best school principals (EW June) with rapt interest. I am in complete sympathy with the view expressed in your ‘Letter from the editor that the task of leading an educational instit-ution is more complex than of running a company or busi-ness organisation.The reality is that as heads of school we deal with human beings from the age of six-86 years including children, teachers, parents and grandparents. More challenging is the fact that Indian society is in a flux, and there is a great churning of values, ethics, and character happening everywhere — regrettably for the worse. Old patterns and stereotypes are changing, as are parents and their priorities which is adversely affecting the education of children. Against this background, the role of teachers and principals has never been more important. We need to first get our own conduct and priorities right, so we can deliver value-based education to children under our care. Praveen Vasisht, Headmaster The Lawrence School, Sanawar Elitist attitude charge I was surprised, even shocked, to see that your June cover story featuring the leadership mantras of Indias 28 best school principals didnt include even one government school principal. Does this mean that Indias best principals are to be found only in elite private day, boarding and international schools? The reality is there are hundreds of government school principals, partic-ularly in the rural hinterland working in very difficult conditions to deliver quality education. Real-life stories of how government school principals deal with the challenges of poor infrast-ructure, absentee teachers, and first generation learners would have proved more inspirational than the banal homilies mouthed by your selected principals working out of air-conditioned offices. My advice: shed your elitist attitude and include government schools. Sumita Ganguly Kolkata We repeatedly contacted T. Mrinalini, principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, IIT-Madras campus — Indias top-ranked (No.50) gover-nment day school in the EW-C fore Indias Most Respected Sch-ools Survey 2010 — but she procrastinated beyond the deadline — Editor Bang on target I read with avid interest Dr. C.N.R. Raos prescriptions for rejuvenating Indian higher education (EW June). The distinguished scientists observation that India has an examinations rather than an education system, is bang on target. Its not unusual for Plus Two students to write six-seven entrance exams in addition to their board exams. This is cruel, to say the least. Dr. Raos suggestion of instituting a single national entrance exam for admission into all colleges countrywide is excellent, and needs to be implemented immediately. Moreover his other recommendations for revamping and upgrading Indian higher education need a nationwide debate. Sunil Malhotra Delhi Managing census shock Re the news story ‘China: One child policy revisionism? featured in the international news section (EW June), Id like to draw your attention to the recently concluded Census 2011 of India. The latest data indicates that adult literacy has risen to 74 percent. However, if population growth is to be controlled, India needs nothing short of 100 percent…