NCSL: A responsible quasi Government Body
In the age of social media, for every post, status, blog .. of yours, you can expect & get prompt "likes", comments, "shares" of course from your friends, kith & kin.
What kind of response you can expect for your email from a governmental/quasi-
You are bound to get a response at least for sake of it. Mostly it may be very delayed, evasive reply.
But, the National Centre for School Leadership (established at National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration under the aegis of Ministry of Human Resources Development, GOI) surprised me in two dimensions.
First Dimension
Their promptness was in the measure of hours, not days. I had sent a mail on 20.01.2019 Sunday at 9.40 pm. Their office opens only the next day at 9.00 AM and got a reply at 10.42 AM. That is in one hour and forty-two minutes.
Second Dimension
NSCL is organizing an All India Conference of Outstanding and vibrant school heads. This is a pioneering conference of school heads, basically, focus on the development of schools and students with a great focus on future requirements of this generation of students. The conference will document the pathways of exemplary school heads and formulate a framework. Only two School Heads from TN have been invited. But Mr.Thennavan, The Head Master of
Panchayat Union Elementary School of Madurai East (Othakkadai) who has evolved as a celebrity by virtue of his innovative and successful School Leadership has not been invited to this conference.
I had pointed out this lapse in my email. My email was in English but my supportive evidence was mostly in Tamil. which the concerned persons do not know. But on the basis of my email itself, they admitted and endorsed, my view and I shall quote:
You have rightly pointed - how could we miss Mr. Thennavan , let me tell you, sir, its not just Mr Thennavan, we have rather missed many Thennavans across the country for want of efficient mechanism to reach out, for language barrier in many cases and for paucity of time and funds to actually bring all of them together.
Now I see a ray of hope that the Government will not let down its responsibility in Education.
Nalanthaa Sembulingam
21.01.2019
copy of my email and NCSL's reply follows
To
The Head
NCSL.
New Delhi
Dear Madam
First of all, let me congratulate for the conceptualization of CSL & it has enthused me a lot. even though I am not a direct stakeholder in any of the domains covering CSL.
I am a Book Seller, Writer & Blogger.
I write and blog as NALANTHAA SEMBULINGAM. My blog address is nalanthaa.blogspot.com
I have written two books, the first book titled MACAULAY KALIVIL ERUNTHU MEEZHA THIRUKURALAE VAZHI (TO LIBERATE FROM MACAULAY EDUCATION, THIRUKURAL IS THE PATHWAY) is a commentary on a High Court Judgement that directed State Government to include THIRU KURAL in school syllabus. And many of my blogs highlight exemplary Government Schools.
I am very happy to note that one of the two participants from TN to National Conference for Leadership Pathways for School Improvement, is Mr Peter Raja, School Head of Ramanathan Chettiar Municipal High School, Karaikudi. He is an exemplary leader and the school has made great strides under his leadership. I have written eight blogs on that School.
Today, I have also written a blog regarding CSL and the ensuing National Conference. (blog link: https://nalanthaa.
I bring to your kind attention another exemplary School Head, Mr Thennavan of Panchayat Union Elementary School of Madurai East Panchayat Union (also called OTHAK KADAI).
Mr Thennavan suits best for CSL. He is celebrated by all media. I have also written three blogs on his school. He and His school have won many accolades. He is much more than an efficient leader, great achiever. No need to say the student strength is surging. He is also a visionary, indeed. PUTHIYA THALAI MURAI, a popular TV accoladed him as INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR. In his award acceptance speech. he told
"DO YOU WANT TO SEE GOD, COME TO A PRIMARY SCHOOL, YOU CAN SEE FACES OF ALL GODS YOU WORSHIP"
that is his vision.
Lady Doak College (established in 1948) an eminent and first women's' college of Madurai recently conducted an international seminar on INTERNATIONAL SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMME 2018. Eleven international Research scholar visited Mr Thennavan's school for field and case study.
I really do not understand how you missed Mr Thennavan for this conference, which is organized to discover vibrant & outstanding Government Schools.
facebook id of Mr Thennavan:
I am also attaching some pictures taken from his facebook.
with regards
C. Jambulingam
Mobile no. 9361410349
NCSL's reply:
Dear Nalanthaa ji,
kashyapi
--
This is Dr Kashyapi from NCSL and our Head of Department and mentors Prof. Diwan shared your mail with us. It is always enthusing to know that you are not alone on the journey and that there are many more to charge you up along the path.
I went through your blog post, FB page unfortunately for the first time my inability to read Tamil made me feel little discriminated. But I saw the NIEPA logo and could just guess all that had come in the aesthetic and ancient language. I really thank you for taking that initiative and leadership in your own way.
You have rightly pointed - how could we miss Mr. Thennavan , let me tell you, sir, its not just Mr Thennavan, we have rather missed many Thennavans across the country for want of efficient mechanism to reach out, for language barrier in many cases and for paucity of time and funds to actually bring all of them together.
We at NCSL, however, are making this an annual feature and would need the active support of writers, bloggers and enthusiasts like you to connect all the good across the country. Looking forward to active collaboration with many more Nalanthaa.
Sincere regards
--
Dr Kashyapi Awasthi
Assistant Professor
National Centre for School Leadership
National University of Educational Planning and Administration
