DEV LAHIRI

Former headmaster of Lawrence School, Lovedale and Welham Boys, Dehradun

Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
On the very top of my list of national priorities.

How best to upgrade government schools?
Create a cadre of well-paid, well-trained and motivated teachers.

Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Rabindranath Tagore.

Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Rabindranath Tagore.

Your leadership style.
Consultative, collaborative and leading by example.

Your favourite book on leadership.
None. I dont believe leadership can be learnt through books.

For or against the RTE Act mandating 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
In principle for, but not in its present form.

Should education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
No. I dont think defence can be compromised in the present circumstances. Surely there are other ways of allocating more money to education.

Please summarise your new assignment.
I will be working in a very unusual private school in the US named Wasatch Academy. It has 37 different nationalities represented in a student population of 300. My job will be to develop an international curriculum and forge bonds with educators and institutions worldwide.

Pessimistic or optimistic about Indian education?
Optimistic but with one reservation — unless the status of the teacher is upgraded no progress is possible.