Date: March 5, 2001
Venue: Casuarina Hall, India Habitat Centre

Speakers
James Tooley, New Castle University, England
Prof. J. B. G. Tilak, NIEPA, New Delhi
Dr. Parth Shah, President, Centre for Civil Society, New Delhi
Dr. Sugata Mitra, Centre for Research in Cognitive Systems, NIIT Limited, New Delhi
Shri Shanker Vira, Schoolnet India Ltd., New Delhi
Shri Sauvik Chakraverti, Senior Assistant Editor, The Economic Times, New Delhi

Programme:
9.30 AM: Registration
9.45 AM: Session I - Private Inititiatives in Education
11.15 AM: Tea
11.30 AM: Session II - The role of educational entrepreneurs
1.00 PM: Lunch

Background

India has the dubious distinction of sustaining the largest number of illiterate people while at the same time producing the largest number of scientific and technical manpower. This divide is only widening with the emergence of information technology.

The goal of universal education has remained a dream. The performance of the government has been dismal. There are increasing number of questions about the actual role of the government in sustaining the 'Kerala model' in promoting almost total literacy. Yet, there is a general expectation that providing education and health services, the so called social sectors, are the prime responsibility of government agencies. Nevertheless, the private sector - non-profit and for-profit - had been initiating innovative steps to promote the cause of education. These "edupreneurs" have often had to overcome great obstacles in their stride to offer a range of educational services.

There are those who have focused their attention on the three basic R's. Others have sought to harness the power of the information technologies in an attempt to bridge the knowledge divide. Some are exploring new interactive teaching techniques with the aim of making learning an enjoyable companion. Others are seeking to develop IT skills with the hope of opening new vistas. Teachers are being introduced to new curriculum and teaching techniques to motivate them to explore new frontiers. Increasing number of schools, teachers, students, parents, and communities are joining this exploration. School choice and vouchers are being introduced to motivate public schools to improve their performance. Home schooling and special schools are meeting the needs of ever more demanding parents and students.

This seminar aims to look at the role played by these educational entrepreneurs, and seek to find ways of bridging the widening knowledge divide.