Skand Bali is principal of the highly-ranked CISCE-affiliated Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet (estb. 1923). An alum of Punjab University, he began his career as a geography teacher at the Army Public School, Dagshai followed by The Doon School, Dehradun and served as principal of the G.D. Goenka World School, Gurgaon before signing up with HPS-B in August last year.

Are you satisfied with the Union Budget 2018-19 allocation of Rs.85,010 crore for education?

It’s not the quantum of money allocated in the budget but the efficiency of expenditure that’s more important. I am not happy with the state of our K-12 education system. As an educationist, I expected much more than just monetary allocation from this budget.

How satisfied are you with the quality of exam boards’ syllabuses/curriculums and prescribed textbooks?

We have good curriculums and syllabuses. But what’s lacking in India is quality delivery. Our textbooks and teaching need to be vastly improved in terms of design and quality, become inclusive and promote analytical rather than rote learning.

What is your solution to upgrading board syllabuses and curriculums and textbooks to produce students ready for the 21st century job market?

Our curriculums and textbooks should prepare students for the future. I believe teachers and students should play a more proactive role in developing curriculums and texts. The objective should be to encourage students to think out-of-the-box and prepare them for the inevitable uncertainties of the future. 

What are your Top 4 suggestions for reforming K-12 education?

• Introduce a uniform education and language policy across India.

• Establish a National Education Regulatory Authority.

• Promote national/state teacher training colleges and develop a national teacher selection and in-service training policy.

• Make social service, adventure, life skills and sports mandatory for all schools across the country.