When media pundits and mainstream journalists who tend to focus more on petty politics rather than root development issues pay attention to education matters, your editor who promoted EducationWorld 25 years ago with the mission to make “education the #1 item on the national agenda”, is delighted. But when a respected media pundit through an act of omission and/or calculated neglect, belittles this publication’s sustained effort which has succeeded in moving the needle of public policy on critical issues such as early childhood and skills education, as also private higher education, one is obliged to react.
In his weekly Swaminomics column in the Times of India (December 8), Swaminathan Anklesaria, who writes an engaging 800-1,000 words weekly essay for the “world’s largest-selling English language daily”, focused on India’s school education system. Aiyar expressed “pleasant surprise” that three Indian schools have been adjudged among the best schools worldwide by T4, which he describes as a “low-profile but respected international institution”. T4 is a London-based not-for-profit promoted by Vikas Pota, whose online profile describes him as a London-based advocate, entrepreneur and community builder. Therefore although the assessment methodology employed by T4 to rate and rank the world’s best schools for community collaboration, environmental action, overcoming adversity and supporting healthy lives is unclear, T4 awards merit acknowledgement and respect.
Yet your editor is befuddled that in his 1,000 word essay Aiyar didn’t at all mention the annual EducationWorld India School Rankings (EWISR) — the world’s largest and most comprehensive schools rating and rankings initiative which rates India’s top 4,000 schools in 438 cities and towns divided into three main and 14 sub-categories on 14 parameters of school education excellence. There is a rich lode of evidence available in the EW league tables of high performing schools across India. It can’t be that Aiyar is unaware of your editor — as founding-editor of Business India and Businessworld — and a former dining companion. Neither can he be unaware of EW often complimented to him. Now in the winter of his life and commenting on India matters from the US, Aiyar has either lost the plot or been afflicted by the green-eyed monster. Nevertheless one wishes him well.
