We — Bamboola Play School, Chennai — have been in business for the past ten years now, much before magazines such as EducationWorld started ranking and covering schools in this segment (EW India Preschool Rankings 2012, December). For the past two-three years our school’s ranking has been consistent in your magazine, but this year, I find it quite intriguing to note that our rankings have slipped on several parameters, which I find hard to believe. I am curious as to how your magazine does these rankings. I don’t recall any one visiting our premises or talking to our parents and teachers. For e.g on one of the parameters — teacher welfare — we are rated No. 9. Have you spoken to any of my teachers to get this number? How do you come up with this rating? We have also slipped on the parameter of innovative teaching. What do you mean by innovative teaching for kids who are less than 3.5 years of age? Are you looking at a Smart Board system in the school to teach toddlers? I would appreciate a reply, so we can understand how this rating is done and can continue to work and excel in those areas. Unless the system of rating is transparent and helpful, there’s not much we as directors of a school can do to deliver the best for society, the sole purpose of our existence. Sujata Vijay Director, Bamboola Play School Chennai Our rankings are a reflection of public perceptions, not investigation. The ranking methodology is explained in extenso on p.40 which you are advised to read — Editor Public pressure call I strongly support your suggestion to transform the country’s 1.6 million anganwadis into fully-fledged early childhood education centres (EW December). It’s an overdue initiative which must be taken up immediately by the Central and state governments. Science and education research has now proved beyond doubt that brain development is greatest in the early childhood years (0-8). The consequences of neglecting the vital foundational stage of a child’s development will have long-term implications on the future of the next generation. But as you rightly point out in your cover story, the HRD ministry and education departments in the states have consistently ignored and neglected ECE provision for the country’s vast majority of children whose parents cannot afford the fancy preschools you have ranked in six major cities countrywide. Little wonder that India is ranked last (45) in The Economist’s ‘Starting-Well’ rankings for its abysmal provision of early childhood education. What is needed to push them into action is public pressure. I hope EducationWorld will take the lead in building public opinion. Ajay Kumar Sharma Delhi Curious omission I was pleased to read your EW India Preschool Rankings 2012 cover story (EW December). However Shishya Nursery, a preschool with a strength of 200 students, which has been running for the past 25 years in Bangalore, has not been ranked among the Top 10. In informed circles it’s well-known that Shishya offers enriched learning programmes for young children…
