Super 30 founder Anand Kumar in defence of Smriti Irani

PATNA: Mathematician Anand Kumar, who has helped hundreds of students make it to the IIT over the last 12 years through his pioneering initiative Super 30, has a lot of hopes from the Union minister for human resource development Smriti Irani.
Contrary to criticism by a section of people over the elevation of Irani, who is just plus two, to the position of HRD minister, Kumar said she would certainly emerge as a successful minister under the able guidance of PM Narendra Modi and silence her critics.
Talking to TOI Anand Kumar said:” she is more articulate and know her job very well”.
“All she needs is the commitment for the country’s educational development to silence her critics. She faces a lot of challenges in the field of education, but there is no reason why she will not succeed,” Kumar told TOI,
Exuding optimism that the new HRD minister would work to make education truly inclusive, he said: “There is a lot of hope that she would work on three basic aspects of education - access, equity and quality. And her modest background will only work to her advantage to identify the crucial areas, which need focused attention”, he said.
Kumar said it was the intent and passion that was important, not personal degrees. "Right from primary to secondary and higher and technical education, accessibility to quality and affordable education holds the key," he added.
Kumar, who has been consistently demanding additional chance to students from rural areas in the joint entrance examination due to the starting disadvantage they have, said the new minister would certainly feel for the large population poor and take decisions that would provide them a level-playing field.
The Super 30 founder said another major challenge for the new minister would be to draw the most talented lot to teaching, as that was crucial to quality.
"Today, everyone wants good teachers. Everyone wants to admit their wards in good institutions, but nobody wants them to be teachers. This should be a major concern, as all premier institutions are facing faculty crunch," he said.
The Super 30 founder said there was a lot of expectation from the Narendra Modi government, which has a slogan 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'. "HRD will have to take lead in this and I am optimistic, the new incumbent, who is articulate and sincere, will deliver with some basic steps," he added.