Anirudh Gupta
CEO, DCM Group of Schools, Punjab
Where would you place education on your national list of priorities?
Among the top three.
How best to upgrade government schools?
Formation of a steering committee to ensure appropriate flow and utilisation of sanctioned funds; regular school visits by monitoring committees; active SMDCs (school management and development committees) and accessible location of new schools sanctioned.
Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Socrates — a teacher himself — has inspired me all my life.
Your favourite Nobel laureate.
Kailash Satyarthi, for his relentless efforts to streamline the lives of thousands of deprived working children through education and resettlement.
Your leadership style.
I always believe an effective leader is one who walks together with his team rather than walking ahead.
Your favourite book on education.
Free to Learn by Dr. Peter Gray.
For or against the RTE Act’s 25 percent reservation for underprivileged children in private schools?
The DCM Group of Schools has always believed in Education for All. However, I believe the RTE Act is actually RIPE — Right Intention Poor Execution of Education.
Should the education outlay be doubled by cutting defence expenditure?
There’s no comparison between education and defence when it comes to setting priorities.
How satisfied are you with the growth and development of the DCM Group of Schools?
It has been satisfying, although for us the journey has just begun despite our legacy of almost 70 years in the field of quality education.
Pessimistic or optimistic about the future of education in India?
Very optimistic! In the era of globalisation and technology, education is blossoming with learning moving beyond textbooks.