Eduleader bytes with R. Chandrasekar, Chairman, MS Dhoni Global School, Bengaluru and the Litera Valley Zee School, Hosur Where would you place education on your national list of priorities? Absolutely at the very top. I consider myself blessed to be in service of the nation through education. How best to upgrade government schools? Inculcate greater levels of social responsibility within their teachers’ communities. For this, willingness of government school teachers to upskill themselves and upgrade the system is vital. Thinker/philosopher you admire the most. The Chinese philosopher Confucius. One of his many teachings was “Success is a work in progress. Keep moving towards your dream no matter how long it takes.” This has become my philosophy and watchword. Your favourite Nobel laureate. Sir C.V. Raman. His determination and intellectual integrity while conducting research in adverse conditions should inspire every student to strive to reach the top. Your leadership style. I believe in setting distinctive and clear goals for teachers and students — to see the big picture. Your favourite book on education. A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change by Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown. It enabled me to crystallise my thoughts about the future of education. Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure? I couldn’t agree more! A well-educated citizenry is the best defence against foreign aggression. What is your 3-point prescription to revitalise Indian K-12 education post-pandemic? My 3-point prescription would be to Enable students to like, love, learn… Make them mentally and physically strong Make them future-ready for the 21st century How satisfied are you with the growth and development of the MS Dhoni Global School and Litera Valley Zee Schools? Delighted and excited about the growth of these institutions in academics, sports, co-curricular and technology-enabled education. Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India? Highly optimistic, as I believe that the Central government will provide necessary support and facilities needed to contemporise the national education system. Also Read:Turning the lockdown into a learning opportunity
