The first School Choice National Conference (SCNC) on Quality Education for All: Policy Solutions for Better Schooling, organized by the School Choice Campaign on 16 December 2009 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, was well attended and appreciated by the participants. The Conference had an excellent blend of top-level national and international academics, policy makers, eminent speakers and education experts and advisors as well as a very good representation of delegates comprising of development workers, corporates, academicians and school leaders, government officials, civil society, social activists, youth and the media.
Speaking at the Inauguration of the Conference, Mr Sam Carlson, Lead Education Specialist - World Bank, summarized the challenges for the government and civil society groups in executing the Right to Education in India. Calling for more Public Private Partnerships, Mr Carlson demanded more emphasis on quality of school education. Also present were Dr Parth Shah, President – Centre for Civil Society and Mr Kanwal Rekhi, who spoke on the need for school choice solutions to reforming and liberalizing school education in India.
The Conference sessions focused on the implementation of the key provisions of the Right to Education and their potential impact on the future of Indian elementary education.