A batchmate from IAS 82 batch (let's just call him SK) engaged with me today, demonstrating the very same charactersitics which have RUINED India.

I also notice he "unfriended" me on Facebook by the time I got to send him further information. So much for the SUPREME ARROGANCE of IAS officials, who not only refuse to learn, but when questioned, become your enemy.

I'm QUITE FINE with having such people as enemies.

==EXTRACT==

My comment:

Let the state stop running schools. And get out of setting "syllabus". I'm happy for a minimum standard e.g. PISA related which ensures a second layer of check to that of natural competition, by providing objective requirements of quality, but that's a small part of what is taught. Schools should be free to reach out and teach the best. We don't need bureaucracies to set the syllabus.

Here's the rest of the conversation:

SK Sanjeev Sabhlok, I have been the Education Secretary of a State. The syllabi for school education are prepared by a cross section of subject matter specialist academicians drawn not only from within the State, but all over India. Both the private and government schools coexist. The government schools and government teachers have also produced the brightest of students. Sanjeev, there are issues of inclusive development, and also arguments in favour of affirmative action through the State instrumentalities who are not driven by the considerations of profit alone. And above all, we have to appreciate our challenges in the Indian context. By the way, Sanjeev, you have left IAS for the reasons I don't know, but why should you carry your bias against the civil services? There are good and bad specimen in all walks of life. What is necessary is to have an open mind and tap the best resources. Believe me, the bureaucrats can be as useful as anyone else, and vice versa. We appreciate people outside the government for their valuable contributions to public interest. We expect and deserve the same rationality and poise from everyone, including the stand-alone know-alls.
about an hour ago

Sanjeev Sabhlok I too was Secretary of Schools (in Assam). The key is not just syllabus, but the fundamental design. Government should get out of managing schools. Light handed regulation, plus direct funding of needy students (through vouchers not cash).
about an hour ago

SK The right time will come for that. The Indian transformation can not be carried through jerks and jumps. Transition has to be carried through a process of evolution. Government is gradually withdrawing fully or step by step from such areas where private sector is ready to take over. The transition can not afford a vacuum of services even for the shortest time. Private players are showing greater presence in telecommunication, health, education sectors. To that extent, government is withdrawing. It is to be seen whether the private players go beyond green pastures to uneconomical areas too. Yes, direct cash subsidies are a better option, but the Indian challenge is too big and we will take some more time to reach a foolproof cash subsidy dispensation platform. We know very well the options offered by economic theories, but it takes time and effort to provide a reliable and foolproof mechanisms of delivery in the local contexts.
   
Sanjeev Sabhlok S , the reality is that bureaucrats in India don't want to give up their empires, nor do the politicians. I don't expect reforms to occur in India since there is no internal capacity to study world-best practice. Where these have to occur, they have already occurred. Time waits for none. In the meanwhile we are producing dunces. India's schools are the world's lowest in performance. Our children in class 5 can't read what others read in class 2. So kindly carry on whatever you are doing, but I'm not supportive of any excuses that destroy the lives of hundreds of millions of children. If there is no urgency to our reform actions, we will become the garbage bin of the world.

SG पर सरकार कहती है की यदि हम शिक्षा नहीं देंगे तो लोग अपने बच्चों को अशिक्षित रखेंगे उन्हें स्कुल नहीं भेजेंगे !और इस तरह से देश अशिक्षित बन जाएगा !फिर तो देश में कोई भी पढ़ा लिखा नहीं बन पायेगा ! क्योंकि आजादी से पहले देश में एक भी शिक्षित नहीं था ! You are talking quite absurd mr. Sablok on government to stop running their schools. Are you in a capacity to make the payment of equal amount of Rs 144000 crores the politicians earn per year out of primary education only through bribe? If not then you can't talk of stopping govt schools. That is the largest business empire with monumental returns for the govts/ for the rulers in this country and this system could have been established through consistent efforts by the govts and their allies…

SK I can't help remove the biases. We have no empires, and therefore no urge to hold on to them. It is also an insult to our own country producing millions of the brightest professionals when you brand our students as dunces, i.e, dull – witted idiots. And it is again an exaggeration that we are the lowest in performance in the world. The easiest thing is to lecture and pass value judgments, rather than doing something yourself on the ground. I have travelled most parts of the world, attended seminars, workshops, structured trainings, and keenly studied the systems in the context of identically placed school students in terms of poverty, health, housing and nutritional access. To say that we in government do not have the internal capacity to study world's best practices is a joke, and nothing but intellectual arrogance. Rest assured, we are right minded people, and claim our share of patriotism and public spiritedness. Who said we have no sense of urgency in reforms, but despite nudges, we can not lead the people to cross the river just by calculating the average depth of water.

SG Despite all efforts and huge expenses we are put at the lowest notch in a survey of education quality in 73 countries. It was 72. The cost of education for primary education in our country we pay is some what around 4000-5000 per month/student where as the same quality of education in open market worth Rs 30/- only as we have conducted a survey in 100 schools. See the gap is the amount of corruption the govt can't leave the lucrative business so easily.

Sanjeev Sabhlok S, the only international comparison of Indian students with international was done last year (PISA). China was No.1. India was LAST. Only two states agreed to get tested. HP and TN. My blog is down but I could have pointed you to the results, in case you are not aware. I'm sorry, but if you are not even aware that India is producing dunces then how can you possibly take corrective steps? Please don't be defensive. I've seen the IAS thoroughly. They are least interested in reform. I came all the way to IIPA to speak and explain for 2 days and not ONE IAS officer attended. I know exactly what interests them: UN/World Bank jobs, etc. Not reform. That don't expect from the IAS. Let's be very honest. I've also not seen a SINGLE paper by any IAS officer that promotes genuine reforms in any field. And that's not for want of trying. I've been keenly following all reform efforts in India for many years. Whatever little reform has come has come from outside. And 90 per cent of IAS officers get "outstanding" ACRs! Please let's first become honest. Then we can do things. Without honesty India will suffer even more, as governance standards continually decline.
a few seconds ago

SK O my God. Sanjeev, is the object of this discussion to mutually benefit for performing better in respective roles, or single handed IAS bashing? I think most of the IAS officers would not have attended your lecture for the same reason. If it is a sin to join IAS, most of us including you committed it. And if it is a sin to continue in the IAS, we are committing a sin. By leaving it, some attain sainthood. You seem to have an upper hand on that score. Lets forget about these discussions and focus on our job.

Sanjeev Sabhlok This was about education. You clearly don't even think this is a problem. That's why I brought in the whole of IAS – which has grossly failed in its fundamental duty to even understand the problems, leave alone find solutions. I hope you realise it is your job to research and offer India solutions. Not your job to deny the existence of problems. It is my job to point out that there are fundamental reasons why India's bureaucracy is so defensive and will never bring any reforms to India – it is totally unaccountable for results. Do you see where I'm coming from, now? We should talk SYSTEM REFORM. but you are refusing to even accept that something is wrong.

[And finally my blog is back and here's the post. But before I could show this to SK, he "unfrieinded" me!!!!!]

http://sabhlokcity.com/2011/12/himachal-and-tamil-nadu-bravely-face-the-truth-about-their-rotten-education-system/