The conference, scheduled to be inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, had to do with Delhi Health Minister Dr A.K. Walia as Dikshit cancelled at the last minute. The keynote address was delivered by Justice Venkatachaliah.

Walia said there was a need to bridge the wide gap in education as imparted in public and government schools. He government schools lacked funds and said it was the responsibility of the government to solve its financial problems. Delhi Education Minister Narendra Nath, who participated in the first of the six sessions to be held over the next two days, congratulated NPSC on completing its silver jubilee and said that private schools were doing a commendable job in providing elementary education. He said imparting good education was not only the responsibility of teachers and parents, but also that of the government. The minister said the level of education was deteriorating with more and more students opting for private tuition. Nath said the curriculum had to be changed as it was becoming increasingly difficult for the child to decide what he wanted to do.