A graduate of Miranda House, Delhi, with a Masters in psychology and education from Delhi University, Dr. Neeta Bali is director-principal of the IB-affiliated G.D. Goenka World School, Gurgaon. A former principal of Kasiga School, Dehradun, she was conferred the Best Educationist Award of the Indian Productivity Council (2012).

Are you satisfied with the Union Budget 2018-19 allocation of Rs.85,010 crore for education?

This year’s education budget is only marginally higher than last year, even though the government claims that education is its top priority. Can we look at substantial improvement in the quality of education and teacher training without a substantial increase in financial resources? I don’t think so.

The national average pass percentage in the Teacher Eligibility Tests is between 4-7 percent. What’s your comment?

It’s a clear reflection of the inefficacy of our teacher education system. Qualification is not necessarily an indicator of one’s proficiency or ability. Most teachers may be technically qualified to teach, but don’t have the necessary skills for classroom instruction and management. 

What’s your prescription for reforming the country’s failing teacher education system and crisis of lack of qualified teachers?

Vestibule training — well-designed teacher training programmes that are dynamic and constantly updated to meet the growing and evolving needs of learners; learning from countries such as Finland which run successful models of education, and higher and respectable salaries for teachers.

Your Top 5 suggestions for reforming K-12 education.

• Teach skills, not merely content.

• Don’t over-emphasise assessment. 

• Teach students to ‘learn how to learn’.

• Integrate technology into teaching-learning. 

• Finally, respect teachers, pay them well and ensure a secure future for them.