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- NISA President Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma advocates fair regulation and level playing field for all schools
NEW DELHI: The future of India's school education system, with particular emphasis on affordability, equitable access, sustainable financing, institutional accountability and quality learning outcomes, came under extensive deliberation at the 13th School Choice National Conference held at FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi.
Organised by the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) under the theme "Economics of Education," the national conference brought together eminent policymakers, senior government officials, educationists, researchers, institutional leaders and representatives of the private education sector to deliberate on the evolving challenges and opportunities in India's education landscape.
The discussions focused on strengthening the education ecosystem through effective policy reforms, innovative financing mechanisms, public-private collaboration, school choice, transparent regulation and equal opportunities for educational institutions, while ensuring that students remain at the centre of all policy decisions.
The conference witnessed the participation of several distinguished personalities, including Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir; V. Vualnam, IAS, Union Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India; Dr. Amit Chandra, CEO, Centre for Civil Society; Dr. Parth J. Shah, Founder President, Centre for Civil Society; Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma, National President, National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA); Gurcharan Das, eminent author and public intellectual; Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdom, University College London and President, City Montessori School, Lucknow; Sanjay Kumar, former Union Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy; and G.N. Var, veteran educationist and Chief Patron, Private Schools Association J&K (PSAJK), besides several other prominent policymakers and education experts.
The Jammu and Kashmir Private Schools Association (J&K-PSA) participated in the national-level deliberations, effectively representing the concerns, aspirations and policy perspectives of the private education sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation comprised Bilal Ahmad Bhat, State President, J&K-PSA; M.S. Wani, General Secretary; Dr. Owais Mattoo, Director, Media and Communications; and Hilal Ahmad Khan, Secretary.
Addressing the conference, Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasised that education and healthcare constitute the fundamental pillars of a progressive, prosperous and developed society. He stressed that the education system must move beyond the conventional emphasis on academic qualifications and focus on equipping students with practical knowledge, professional competencies and skills required by the rapidly changing employment market.
"We do not want to create only certified unemployed people in our society. We need to have people who are employable and are ready for the job market," Wani remarked, highlighting the urgent need to bridge the gap between academic degrees and actual employment opportunities.
Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, Wani observed that educational institutions had successfully expanded their reach to even remote and geographically difficult areas. However, he maintained that infrastructure development alone could not guarantee quality education. Greater emphasis, he said, must be placed on human resource development, rational deployment of teachers and addressing disparities in teacher-student ratios to ensure better academic outcomes.
He also advocated stronger cooperation and resource-sharing arrangements between government and private educational institutions, suggesting that available infrastructure, including classrooms and other facilities, could be utilised collaboratively to optimise resources and expand educational opportunities.
V. Vualnam, IAS, Union Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, highlighted the importance of efficient utilisation of public funds and ensuring that investments in education translate into measurable improvements in learning outcomes. He emphasised that adequate financial allocations must be accompanied by effective planning, implementation, monitoring and accountability.
A significant highlight of the conference was the panel discussion featuring Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma, National President of NISA, who strongly advocated a fair, transparent and equitable regulatory framework for all educational institutions.
Questioning the conventional distinction between government and private schools, Dr. Sharma emphasised that every educational institution performs an important social responsibility by contributing to the education and development of children. He underlined that private schools, too, make a substantial contribution to the country's educational infrastructure, while parents and other stakeholders invest considerable financial resources in sustaining these institutions.
Advocating a common framework for school assessment, Dr. Sharma stressed that government and private schools should be evaluated against transparent, comparable and objective standards. He called for equal accountability, fair regulations and a supportive policy environment that allows every institution to function effectively and focus on improving educational standards.
"A level playing field is essential for the education sector. Common standards, transparent assessment and fair regulations should apply to all schools in the country. The focus must remain on improving learning outcomes rather than creating unnecessary distinctions between institutions," Dr. Sharma observed.
Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma and other eminent education leaders also appreciated the Jammu and Kashmir Government's initiatives towards improving the Ease of Doing Business in the education sector, particularly the steps aimed at addressing procedural difficulties and long-standing No Objection Certificate (NOC)-related concerns faced by private educational institutions.
The speakers welcomed the government's efforts to simplify regulatory procedures, minimise unnecessary administrative hurdles and create a more transparent and supportive environment for educational institutions. They observed that such reforms would enable private schools to concentrate more effectively on academic excellence, student welfare and institutional development, while ensuring that the interests of students remain protected.
The conference featured three major thematic sessions addressing critical dimensions of education policy, financing and institutional reforms.
The first session, titled "Public Financing of Education," was moderated by Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdom of University College London and President of City Montessori School, Lucknow. The session examined public investment in education, resource allocation and the need for effective utilisation of available funds. The panel comprised Lt. Col. Jitendra Verma, OSD, NITI Aayog; Prof. Saumen Chattopadhyay of Jawaharlal Nehru University; Dr. Mridusmita Bordoloi, Policy Advisor, Centre for Social and Economic Progress; and Meeta Sengupta, writer and education advisor.
A special "Student First Dialogue" brought together Sanjay Kumar, former Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, and renowned author and public intellectual Gurcharan Das. The dialogue highlighted the importance of placing students' interests, educational aspirations and overall development at the heart of policymaking.
The second session, "New-Age Financing of Education," moderated by Dr. Parth J. Shah, explored emerging financing models and innovative approaches to making quality education more accessible, affordable and financially sustainable. The discussion featured Dr. Sarath Davala, Chair, Basic Income Earth Network; Dr. Arpan Tulsyan, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation; and Rahul Aggarwal, Vice President, Alliance for Re-Imagining School Education.
The third session, "Levers of Change," moderated by Dr. Amit Chandra, focused on identifying policy interventions, institutional mechanisms and practical reforms necessary to strengthen the education ecosystem. The panel included Dr. Annie Koshi, Principal, St. Mary's School, New Delhi; Dr. Kulbhushan Sharma, President, NISA; Kavish Gadia, Co-founder and CEO, Excel One; and Rahul Ahluwalia, Director, Foundation for Economic Development.
Across the sessions, participants deliberated on the relationship between education financing, institutional performance, regulatory accountability and measurable learning outcomes. They underscored that financial investment must translate into tangible improvements in educational quality, accessibility, affordability and student achievement.
The programme also featured the felicitation of research scholars and distinguished education thought leaders in recognition of their contributions to the education sector. The conference concluded with closing remarks and a formal vote of thanks by Manoj Mathew, Director, Policy Outreach, Centre for Civil Society.
J&K-PSA's participation in the national conference provided an important platform for projecting the concerns and priorities of Jammu and Kashmir's private education sector before national policymakers and leading education experts. The discussions offered an opportunity to highlight the need for progressive regulatory policies, institutional sustainability, greater government-private sector cooperation and an enabling environment for schools to deliver quality education.
The association reiterated its commitment to promoting quality education, safeguarding student welfare, strengthening teacher development and maintaining constructive engagement with the government and policymakers. It emphasised that the future of India's education system depends on a collaborative approach involving government institutions, private schools, educators, parents and other stakeholders.
The conference concluded with a broader consensus that India's educational transformation requires forward-looking policy reforms, sustainable financing, equal opportunities for all educational institutions and an unwavering focus on student-centred, inclusive and outcome-oriented learning.
