• An appropriate question has been raised by the editorial ‘No child left behind’. But will the revised education bill deliver? It’s definitely a step in the right direction; it must be ensured that it doesn’t 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 don’t 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.

... contd.