• An appropriate question has been raised by the editorial No child left behind. But will the revised education bill deliver? Its definitely a step in the right direction; it must be ensured that it doesnt remain on paper alone. Also,I believe that by implementing a direct 25 per cent quota in private schools for disadvantaged children,the government is creating an impediment for itself. Concentration of disadvantaged children will differ from region to region,as will the number of private schools.
A better approach will be to vary the number according to the conditions in different parts. Regions can be classified as per availability of schools and numbers of disadvantaged children,percentages can be assigned thereafter. The task may be harder than it is now,but it will ensure better implementation of the right to education.
Rahul Zutshi
Noida
Enabling environment
• This refers to the editorial The wrong lecture. That IITs have acquired an enviable reputation is largely due to the quality of students entering their portals. But when we look at the high standards and the volume of original research in top institutions in the developed world,we dont match up. Premier institutes there contribute immensely to their defence,space research,etc.
Had a similar ethos of sustaining the highest standards been nurtured here,many IIT-ians would have had immense intellectual satisfaction in continuing valuable research. The lack of an enabling environment drives them to management,finance,etc. The HRD minister and IITs must think of the larger picture. IITs have a role far beyond providing an elite coaching camp for aspirants striving for a Wall Street job.
R. Narayanan
Ghaziabad
Succession strategies
• IF we consider right aptitude,knowledge of ground realities,sensitive temperament and a zeal for social service as the criteria for a political career,most of the family nominations in elections would show the preponderance of heredity,not merit. There are few cases of merit in this country,but examples of favouring ones family are galore. The decline in the quality of governance is only one of its costs to the nation. Our political class could learn from the corporate sector in the art of grooming the young for succession.
Y.G. Chouksey
Not comic
• Having gained notoriety for his violent moral policing across Karnataka,Pramod Muthalik is under the scanner for propagating his Hindu agenda. Men like him have no compunctions about stirring the socially regressive instincts of misguided youth. Their speeches tend to portray them as conscience-keepers of the nation. Having attacked Westernised mores,Muthalik now has plans to tackle the plight of Hindus internationally. His rhetoric may sound comic,but he cannot be ignored. He poses a danger for the country.
Pachu Menon
Goa
