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Shiksha: My Experiments as an Education Minister
From schools of excellence to brilliant improvement in the board examinations and state-of-the-art facilities, government schools in Delhi rock. The implementation of innovative concepts like 'happiness curriculum' and 'entrepreneurship mindset programme' in Delhi government schools has brought about revolutionary change in the public school education system in the national capital of India. Manish Sisodia, Delhi's deputy chief minister and education minister, is the visionary instrumental in ushering in such a transformation. Recounting his experiences and experiments as an education minister, this book offers blowby- blow account of this amazing success story. Shiksha, a book of hope and possibilities, will inspire everyone who is poised to make a difference in society through education.
208 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 24, 2020
Successive Indian governments have traditionally spent fraction of its total budget on education and hence public education system has fared badly compared to private education set up. Over the years, driven by corrupt system, government apathy and poor infrastructure the system more or less has collapsed in many states. Now comes a silver lining. A dynamic education minister backed by a pragmatic chief minister in the country's capital decided to completely overhaul the system. The book is his journey and chronicles how he went about achieving the impossible. A must read for all who believe that a sound education system can help bring about a great change in society.
January 6, 2021
I have been always interested in the subject of education. My biggest regret is that instead of academics I chose this corporate life. How I wish I could have been a teacher, in some high-school perhaps!
I know. I know. You can always say, that it is never too late to get back to academics. Hopefully, someday. It is not easy to get out of the zone of comfort, you see. But, someday. Surely, someday.
Meanwhile, I am trying to collect more information and understand what are the works being done in the field of education in various countries, states, institutions etc. Remember the famous scene in the movie 3 idiots, when the professor asks Rancho to teach the class instead of him, then in his own quirky method Rancho passes the message back to the professor that he was not trying to teach Engineering, which his professor of course knows better than him, but he is merely demonstrating how to teach.
Yes, It is the "how" aspect that interests me more than "what", that you can easily get simply by reading more.
Somehow, I think in India, the political class don't want that the majority of people to be well-educated, lest they would lose their vote bank, if all were well-informed. Whenever a politician talks about education in India, I look at him with serious skepticism, and try to find out what propaganda he is selling - religious orthodoxy, politics of hatred or mere populism. However, I have been reading a lot about how the recent AAP government in Delhi has done really good work in the field of Education in their state. As a non-resident, who has no on the ground knowledge, I have no clue, whether that is pure marketing or there is substance to the claim.
I picked the book by Manish Sisodia, the Education minister of Delhi, to know how his government's initiatives have improved the quality of education in the state. I was very much aware, that it could be a mere marketing pamphlet. However, I was keen on understanding his perspectives on the various aspects of education that he focused on.
Sadly it is not a very well written, or researched book. It reads more or less like a resume of achievements and testimonials of Sisodia than a guide book of what can and should be done for our school education. It lacked the deep dive into the research and execution methodologies about the transformative initiatives, and their statistical or demonstratable results, which I was very much interested into. It was low on facts and high on rhetoric. No. No. Don't get me wrong. I am not questioning the initiatives and their effectiveness. My criticism is solely on the content and structure of the book. I wish it could have been written by professional researcher with the inputs from Mr. Sisodia.
From the transformative measures point of view, I really liked the ideas of Happiness Class, Entrepreneurial Mindset curriculum, mentor-teacher tradition, parents-teacher relationship, empowering the teachers and finally the education model of co-existence ( A. Nagraj's Madhyastha Darshan). From these, it appears that Sisodia's heart is in right place, at least in line with my thoughts on educational reforms. I wish, I could learn more about these.
I know. I know. You can always say, that it is never too late to get back to academics. Hopefully, someday. It is not easy to get out of the zone of comfort, you see. But, someday. Surely, someday.
Meanwhile, I am trying to collect more information and understand what are the works being done in the field of education in various countries, states, institutions etc. Remember the famous scene in the movie 3 idiots, when the professor asks Rancho to teach the class instead of him, then in his own quirky method Rancho passes the message back to the professor that he was not trying to teach Engineering, which his professor of course knows better than him, but he is merely demonstrating how to teach.
Yes, It is the "how" aspect that interests me more than "what", that you can easily get simply by reading more.
Somehow, I think in India, the political class don't want that the majority of people to be well-educated, lest they would lose their vote bank, if all were well-informed. Whenever a politician talks about education in India, I look at him with serious skepticism, and try to find out what propaganda he is selling - religious orthodoxy, politics of hatred or mere populism. However, I have been reading a lot about how the recent AAP government in Delhi has done really good work in the field of Education in their state. As a non-resident, who has no on the ground knowledge, I have no clue, whether that is pure marketing or there is substance to the claim.
I picked the book by Manish Sisodia, the Education minister of Delhi, to know how his government's initiatives have improved the quality of education in the state. I was very much aware, that it could be a mere marketing pamphlet. However, I was keen on understanding his perspectives on the various aspects of education that he focused on.
Sadly it is not a very well written, or researched book. It reads more or less like a resume of achievements and testimonials of Sisodia than a guide book of what can and should be done for our school education. It lacked the deep dive into the research and execution methodologies about the transformative initiatives, and their statistical or demonstratable results, which I was very much interested into. It was low on facts and high on rhetoric. No. No. Don't get me wrong. I am not questioning the initiatives and their effectiveness. My criticism is solely on the content and structure of the book. I wish it could have been written by professional researcher with the inputs from Mr. Sisodia.
From the transformative measures point of view, I really liked the ideas of Happiness Class, Entrepreneurial Mindset curriculum, mentor-teacher tradition, parents-teacher relationship, empowering the teachers and finally the education model of co-existence ( A. Nagraj's Madhyastha Darshan). From these, it appears that Sisodia's heart is in right place, at least in line with my thoughts on educational reforms. I wish, I could learn more about these.
January 25, 2020
First non-fiction of the year, and it filled me with optimistic thoughts in Politics and Education. The world is not that bad. There are some good people also who think of others. Great achievements of Delhi government. Kudos!!
November 10, 2020
I don't know why but this book felt like a pat on one's own back.
I wanted a perspective of trials and tribulations too (which was meagerly covered) but it was more of an ideal world of an education minister where she/he just formulates policies along with her/his think tank and brings about reforms.
And that one chapter almost entirely of testimonials ! We get it Sisodia Ji, we believe in your work (to an extent).
Still this book works out for me and educates me on some aspects of education ministry and its methodologies in Delhi.
Would love to read a follow up book which describes what went good and what went bad along with condition and progress on the schools mentioned in this one.
☮️
I wanted a perspective of trials and tribulations too (which was meagerly covered) but it was more of an ideal world of an education minister where she/he just formulates policies along with her/his think tank and brings about reforms.
And that one chapter almost entirely of testimonials ! We get it Sisodia Ji, we believe in your work (to an extent).
Still this book works out for me and educates me on some aspects of education ministry and its methodologies in Delhi.
Would love to read a follow up book which describes what went good and what went bad along with condition and progress on the schools mentioned in this one.
☮️
April 18, 2020
One of the best public policy books I have ever read. It's a journey of Delhi's govt Working on schooling education system step by step to achieving global standards and a happier life for children.
Manish Sisodia first identified the problems of govt schools then find solutions for that. Firstly he increased the education budget after that he is working on improving infrastructure. The most crucial initiative by him is to sent teachers to different countries like Finland, USA. To understand their education system, request to IIMs for making courses for teachers and principles for leadership and teaching skills.
One thing I most appreciated is that their policy for the long term that they want to eliminate standardization or exam system in schools.
If you want to understand why we have an impoverished govt school, but the same time when we are talking about university, then we have IIT, IIM, JNU, AIMS, and du, so why we can't build good schools likes in Finland or Japan, then this book should help you.
Manish Sisodia first identified the problems of govt schools then find solutions for that. Firstly he increased the education budget after that he is working on improving infrastructure. The most crucial initiative by him is to sent teachers to different countries like Finland, USA. To understand their education system, request to IIMs for making courses for teachers and principles for leadership and teaching skills.
One thing I most appreciated is that their policy for the long term that they want to eliminate standardization or exam system in schools.
If you want to understand why we have an impoverished govt school, but the same time when we are talking about university, then we have IIT, IIM, JNU, AIMS, and du, so why we can't build good schools likes in Finland or Japan, then this book should help you.
December 10, 2021
This book makes me crave to become a student of the Delhi education system. I really wish I had been that lucky in life. I am in awe of the changes that they proposed and implemented thoroughly at the ground level. If taken seriously, it can easily serve as a blueprint for revolutionalizing the whole education system. 'Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.' - John Dewey
April 10, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised to read about the lengths Manish Sisodia had gone to improve the education system in Delhi. He has a very clear mindset and diverse knowledge required to bring about a change in the system.
We all know about the problems of India's education system. There are not enough schools, the mindset is myopic, schools are manufacturing products instead of independent thinkers, the curriculum is outdated, the environment is not healthy and many other issues.
For tackling these issues he has introduced many intuitive concepts like Mentor-teacher model, Happiness sessions, Mega PTMs and Entrepreneurship Mindset classes. He has taken steps to improve the communication gap between government and schools by assigning an SMC(School management committee).
He even took the principles and teachers to IIMs and many international colleges to tell them about their importance in a student's life and their role as a guide.
I am happy to see the Government bringing about a shift in the education system.
We all know about the problems of India's education system. There are not enough schools, the mindset is myopic, schools are manufacturing products instead of independent thinkers, the curriculum is outdated, the environment is not healthy and many other issues.
For tackling these issues he has introduced many intuitive concepts like Mentor-teacher model, Happiness sessions, Mega PTMs and Entrepreneurship Mindset classes. He has taken steps to improve the communication gap between government and schools by assigning an SMC(School management committee).
He even took the principles and teachers to IIMs and many international colleges to tell them about their importance in a student's life and their role as a guide.
I am happy to see the Government bringing about a shift in the education system.
March 9, 2020
Manish Sisodia highlights his struggles and learnings as an education minister in Delhi. Lots of good stories from his own experiences involving the viewpoint of people in teaching to those of in bureaucracy. I hope all education ministers can take some cue from him and start experimenting some of these ideas in their own states. I found the setup and curriculum of the Happiness class really interesting.
March 2, 2022
A succinct overview of the interesting and transformational changes brought about in Delhi's government schools, I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Shiksha".
Manish Sisodia's vision and perseverance shine through in this book which is particularly exciting for those in the education field. I do, however, wish he had spent some more time outlining the struggles in implementing the changes and a more detailed account of the new curricula/programs added in the schools.
Manish Sisodia's vision and perseverance shine through in this book which is particularly exciting for those in the education field. I do, however, wish he had spent some more time outlining the struggles in implementing the changes and a more detailed account of the new curricula/programs added in the schools.
June 7, 2021
A sweet sweet account of some honest effort and wholesome thought.
January 7, 2023
Great initiative by Delhi govt: key takeaway 25% of the govt expenditure was spent on education
March 2, 2021
The book details the vision of Manish Sisodia and the work done by him as an Education Minister in transforming the state of Education in the capital city. The purpose of education, according to him, is "making humans more humane".
He questions the current system of education where one's ability is judged through marks. He also lays focus on how this system has created a society of individuals running aimlessly in a rat race, not knowing where they want to go. He argues that they are being developed as a resource for the market but not for leading a happy and prosperous life.
Sisodia emphasises that there is a need to rethink the current system and adopt a model that can address these shortcomings. Nevertheless, he gives due credit to all the achievements made by humanity in the modern era to the current system. His "coexistence model of education" aims to develop self-confident visionary youth having temper and ability to take on the real world. His model aims to root out the issues of terrorism, crime, environmental degradation etc. through education rather than by making stringent rules and regulations.
He thinks that the role of government in the realm of education is more of a provider and less of a facilitator/regulator. He starts by recognising the current state of education as a 'systems problem'. He starts by grabbing low-hanging fruits by fixing infrastructure and then moves on to address the systemic issues. His work relies on reorienting the role of every stakeholder involved in the system, be it principals, teachers, parents, or government officials. He achieves this by building a positive work culture, nurturing principals, teachers, and others, and also empowering them by decentralising the educational system rather than solely relying on technology to fix the issues. Having done this he focuses on developing a "happiness course" and "entrepreneurial mindset curriculum" which he believes is the road to realise his vision. He also talks about the challenges faced by his team while developing these courses as it was the first of its kind to be done at that scale. He is also working on the "patriotism course" which will help students understand their role in society and help build strong connect with it.
Sisodia also raises a pertinent question that "what is it that we want our youth to be after going through nearly 20 years in the educational system?" He goes on to say that education's biggest achievement is that it can foresee future problems, find solutions, and prepare future generations for them.
Finally, he briefly talks about his plans to move ahead towards realising his vision of a society, country, world thriving harmoniously.
Buy Shiksha : My Experiments as an Education Minister from Amazon
He questions the current system of education where one's ability is judged through marks. He also lays focus on how this system has created a society of individuals running aimlessly in a rat race, not knowing where they want to go. He argues that they are being developed as a resource for the market but not for leading a happy and prosperous life.
Sisodia emphasises that there is a need to rethink the current system and adopt a model that can address these shortcomings. Nevertheless, he gives due credit to all the achievements made by humanity in the modern era to the current system. His "coexistence model of education" aims to develop self-confident visionary youth having temper and ability to take on the real world. His model aims to root out the issues of terrorism, crime, environmental degradation etc. through education rather than by making stringent rules and regulations.
He thinks that the role of government in the realm of education is more of a provider and less of a facilitator/regulator. He starts by recognising the current state of education as a 'systems problem'. He starts by grabbing low-hanging fruits by fixing infrastructure and then moves on to address the systemic issues. His work relies on reorienting the role of every stakeholder involved in the system, be it principals, teachers, parents, or government officials. He achieves this by building a positive work culture, nurturing principals, teachers, and others, and also empowering them by decentralising the educational system rather than solely relying on technology to fix the issues. Having done this he focuses on developing a "happiness course" and "entrepreneurial mindset curriculum" which he believes is the road to realise his vision. He also talks about the challenges faced by his team while developing these courses as it was the first of its kind to be done at that scale. He is also working on the "patriotism course" which will help students understand their role in society and help build strong connect with it.
Sisodia also raises a pertinent question that "what is it that we want our youth to be after going through nearly 20 years in the educational system?" He goes on to say that education's biggest achievement is that it can foresee future problems, find solutions, and prepare future generations for them.
Finally, he briefly talks about his plans to move ahead towards realising his vision of a society, country, world thriving harmoniously.
Buy Shiksha : My Experiments as an Education Minister from Amazon
July 19, 2021
I remember how from a very early age I have been at odds with the current academic system, how all my friends and I would come together and discuss how we are hardly gaining the right tools to live a good life. And once I started working in the corporate ecosystem, the mismatch between what I should know and what I knew was stark.
Thankfully, I found this pivotal book which discusses various steps implemented by the AAP govt for a better education system in Delhi govt schools. This is one of the most impressive books I have read which talks about a roadmap to a stronger education system which helps every stakeholder in the system.
Manish Sisodia has split the book in two. In the first part he talks about the foundational requirements of education. Here he highlights the various key steps how the system can begin to improve. He has mentioned in great detail about higher budget allocation through govt funding, setting up world class infrastructure by removing bottlenecks, empowering and training of principals and teachers, developing a new brand of mentor-teachers and bringing parents within the fold of their child's education.
In the second part he talks about using education as a foundation stone for the holistic development of the child. Done key aspects here were the introduction of Coexistence model of learning, Happiness class and Entrepreneurship mindset curriculum.
All of these rigourously tested and widely discussed and debated changes have helped the Delhi govt to change the face of govt school education system. It's a positive step that has impacted the lives of thousands of children. And I hope this is a model that can be scaled to other states, under the umbrella of National Education Policy 2020.
I have no complaints with this book because it has shown me how reforms can be made and implemented for a better future for the children. This is a highly recommend book.
Thankfully, I found this pivotal book which discusses various steps implemented by the AAP govt for a better education system in Delhi govt schools. This is one of the most impressive books I have read which talks about a roadmap to a stronger education system which helps every stakeholder in the system.
Manish Sisodia has split the book in two. In the first part he talks about the foundational requirements of education. Here he highlights the various key steps how the system can begin to improve. He has mentioned in great detail about higher budget allocation through govt funding, setting up world class infrastructure by removing bottlenecks, empowering and training of principals and teachers, developing a new brand of mentor-teachers and bringing parents within the fold of their child's education.
In the second part he talks about using education as a foundation stone for the holistic development of the child. Done key aspects here were the introduction of Coexistence model of learning, Happiness class and Entrepreneurship mindset curriculum.
All of these rigourously tested and widely discussed and debated changes have helped the Delhi govt to change the face of govt school education system. It's a positive step that has impacted the lives of thousands of children. And I hope this is a model that can be scaled to other states, under the umbrella of National Education Policy 2020.
I have no complaints with this book because it has shown me how reforms can be made and implemented for a better future for the children. This is a highly recommend book.
April 25, 2020
I recently finished this book. Shiksha means education. The author - Manish Sisodia, is both Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister within the newly elected state government of New Delhi. He is transforming the education system in Delhi and strives to provide quality education to the poorest and weakest sections of the society. In India, there is a huge lack of good public educational resources and infrastructure. Only a few who are lucky enough to go to expensive private schools can enjoy a good education and benefit from extracurricular activities.
He started his journey to change the face of this rotten education system. This book provides his step-by-step approach starting with building the infrastructure, making sure that the schools are well equipped with at least the basic facilities. He then worked on instilling teachers with self-confidence and self-esteem so that they take pride in teaching kids, after all, they are the pillars of society. He started many programs like the mentor-teacher programs, taking teachers and principals to national and international conferences so that they have exposure to international education systems as well.
He started many programs for students which aim at providing a holistic approach to education and not just provide emphasis on rote learning. These programs are aimed at making them better citizens in society.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to know further about the public education system in Delhi and how the Delhi government is trying to improve it, sometimes going against a web of bureaucracy.
P.S.: The best thing is that now other states in India are trying to follow this model of education and starting to improve the school system in their states as well.
He started his journey to change the face of this rotten education system. This book provides his step-by-step approach starting with building the infrastructure, making sure that the schools are well equipped with at least the basic facilities. He then worked on instilling teachers with self-confidence and self-esteem so that they take pride in teaching kids, after all, they are the pillars of society. He started many programs like the mentor-teacher programs, taking teachers and principals to national and international conferences so that they have exposure to international education systems as well.
He started many programs for students which aim at providing a holistic approach to education and not just provide emphasis on rote learning. These programs are aimed at making them better citizens in society.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to know further about the public education system in Delhi and how the Delhi government is trying to improve it, sometimes going against a web of bureaucracy.
P.S.: The best thing is that now other states in India are trying to follow this model of education and starting to improve the school system in their states as well.
January 28, 2020
Ever had those late night discussions with your friend about why your schooling was so weird. Why it was never interesting. Why it taught how to be competitive, but did not teach you how to work collaboratively. Well, reading this book was like listening to a conversation like that. The cool part is that the writer is education minister in Delhi. It is refreshing to have a politician talk education. Manish Sisodia talks not just about supply side of reforms (building schools, getting infrastructure right), but also about learning outcomes of the students. His central hypothesis is that education has long been seen as just a way to provide employment, but it can also be an enabler of heightened conscience of society. A lot of debates about pollution, corruption and violence end with something like "If only people were more educated, we would not have these problems." Well, Arvind Kejriwal's government actually made education priority by allocating 26% of their budget to education. The writer does not limit his writing to rhetoric. He includes a full blown blueprint and action-plan of the ongoing efforts across all stakeholders, i.e. parents, teachers, principles, students and infrastructure. Delhi government school results for 12th class have improved steadily over past 3-4 years. I might not be fully aware but this is honestly the first time I have come across an Indian politician talk about education in this way. Have a read, it's a lucid read.
September 23, 2019
It is really interesting to read this book. I think the experiments and the results which have been done in Delhi are unprecedented and this short book on Manish's journey is an inspiration for many individuals as well as other state governments on if one decides to change the system then sky is the limit and nothing is impossible. Some of Manish's ideas of Happiness Curriculum, Entreprenership Program, Teacher-Mentor program, Teachers making curriculum are completely out of box thinking. His future vision for Delhi schools in the last chapter is an inspiration of what an yet to be done. I would really recommend this short read for all people to understand what is the magnitude of problem for providing "Quality Education in Government schools" and how this has been fixed (or rather WIP). Kudos to you Manish !!
October 29, 2019
At least once we all have had serious deliberations about the current education system. This book finally talks about a way to look at things differently to fulfill the real aim of education. The good part is that the results are being felt on the ground and hence this model of education can be a role model for other governments and nations. The Delhi government needs to be applauded for taking the efforts to reform education which generally is not politically advised because it needs long term efforts and results aren't delivered immediately. This book indeed deals with the way the Delhi government went about reforming education system and other related challenges.
September 25, 2019
This book is for those who care for education, particularly public education system. Easy and quick read. This book gives the glimpse of efforts of the government to make the education system more viable.
February 12, 2023
It doesn't bring the tag of being the best seller, but it's worth reading. That chapter about Mega PTMs stands out!!
July 27, 2020
While listening to an episode of #OffTheRecord by Scoopwhoop Unscripted, I came across this book written by Manish Sisodia ji, Deputy CM, Education Minister & Finance Minister of Delhi Govt.
For past 5 years, Delhi has captured global attention on how it has transmogrified Government schools in Delhi. Governments, teachers, schools, principals, students all have shown pertinent curiosity about Delhi Model of Education.
In this book, Manish Sisodia sir takes readers on a journey of his experiments as Education Minister. In the first half, the author discusses six key basis points on which the foundation of education stands: budget, infrastructure, principals, teachers, mentor-teacher, parents. While in the second half, he talks about his team's 3 visionary ideas that have been successfully implemented across 1000 schools of Delhi: Jeevan Vidhya Shivir, Happiness class, & Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum. My personal favorite is 'Happiness Curriculum'. Having been an education enthusiast myself, I could relate to the need of mindfulness meditation, story-telling, & activity-oriented discussions. From arranging training & workshop sessions for teachers at Harvard, Cambridge, etc. to forming School Management Committees (SMC) that involves parents, this 'Education Team' has tried bringing wide-ranging and thoroughgoing reforms in education system of Delhi.
Having spent 17 years of my life studying, I could see that how the education system of our country is rigid some ways and needs a 360° transformation. An economy of job seekers can never compete with one of job creators and providers. Discussing corruption & terrorism on news channels won't solve the problem, education will. Kudos to Aam Aadmi Party for understanding the root causes well, it isn't easy to spend an average of 25% of annual budget to education sector every year with a definite increment, in a country where funding to education takes a back seat most of the times. 21st century demands developing nations to prioritize education, and that's when India can become the big economy that we vouch for. For now, all hail to Manish Sisodia & his team!!
-//Nihit Parikh
For past 5 years, Delhi has captured global attention on how it has transmogrified Government schools in Delhi. Governments, teachers, schools, principals, students all have shown pertinent curiosity about Delhi Model of Education.
In this book, Manish Sisodia sir takes readers on a journey of his experiments as Education Minister. In the first half, the author discusses six key basis points on which the foundation of education stands: budget, infrastructure, principals, teachers, mentor-teacher, parents. While in the second half, he talks about his team's 3 visionary ideas that have been successfully implemented across 1000 schools of Delhi: Jeevan Vidhya Shivir, Happiness class, & Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum. My personal favorite is 'Happiness Curriculum'. Having been an education enthusiast myself, I could relate to the need of mindfulness meditation, story-telling, & activity-oriented discussions. From arranging training & workshop sessions for teachers at Harvard, Cambridge, etc. to forming School Management Committees (SMC) that involves parents, this 'Education Team' has tried bringing wide-ranging and thoroughgoing reforms in education system of Delhi.
Having spent 17 years of my life studying, I could see that how the education system of our country is rigid some ways and needs a 360° transformation. An economy of job seekers can never compete with one of job creators and providers. Discussing corruption & terrorism on news channels won't solve the problem, education will. Kudos to Aam Aadmi Party for understanding the root causes well, it isn't easy to spend an average of 25% of annual budget to education sector every year with a definite increment, in a country where funding to education takes a back seat most of the times. 21st century demands developing nations to prioritize education, and that's when India can become the big economy that we vouch for. For now, all hail to Manish Sisodia & his team!!
-//Nihit Parikh
December 15, 2021
Thanks to yearly goals, I am finally finished with this after two years.
This is a great book, only if you're interested in the work done by Delhi government for education. The interviews and public speeches of Sisodia are but glimpses of the results. This book is a report on how they were achieved.
Some of the things are universal, and reporting them just shows how simple problems can be overcome to create a win-win situation for all. One example from the book was, 'all teachers were inherently interested to do more for students, but they didn't have opportunities to grow, and were skeptical about the new methods.'
Another example I really liked was when they provided coffee machines in staff rooms, and gave an exclusive budget for refills. This was opposed first by authorities and common public. Sisodia talks about this common mindset of 'why should a teacher have these luxuries?' and worked to replace it with 'if not a teacher, then who should get those facilities, and in turn respect they indicate?' With this small change, the teachers felt cared about and respected.
The happiness curriculum, entrepreneurship mindset and patriotism are visions of Manish Sisodia and he seems to get them implemented effectively. I also really liked how the book came to be. He used voice typing to talk about the things they have done. The working team then edited it, and that gives the content a simplicity that only comes through honest effort.
I would recommend this to mostly apolitical people who would prefer to read some good news. I would like to read more of such 'reporting' type books that tell stories of nation building.
This is a great book, only if you're interested in the work done by Delhi government for education. The interviews and public speeches of Sisodia are but glimpses of the results. This book is a report on how they were achieved.
Some of the things are universal, and reporting them just shows how simple problems can be overcome to create a win-win situation for all. One example from the book was, 'all teachers were inherently interested to do more for students, but they didn't have opportunities to grow, and were skeptical about the new methods.'
Another example I really liked was when they provided coffee machines in staff rooms, and gave an exclusive budget for refills. This was opposed first by authorities and common public. Sisodia talks about this common mindset of 'why should a teacher have these luxuries?' and worked to replace it with 'if not a teacher, then who should get those facilities, and in turn respect they indicate?' With this small change, the teachers felt cared about and respected.
The happiness curriculum, entrepreneurship mindset and patriotism are visions of Manish Sisodia and he seems to get them implemented effectively. I also really liked how the book came to be. He used voice typing to talk about the things they have done. The working team then edited it, and that gives the content a simplicity that only comes through honest effort.
I would recommend this to mostly apolitical people who would prefer to read some good news. I would like to read more of such 'reporting' type books that tell stories of nation building.
December 10, 2024
Shiksha: My Experiments as an Education Minister (Kindle Edition) by Manish Sisodia-I have resided in Delhi from 2013 to 2019. Here I witnessed the comparative change in behaviour of Delhi School children and children of same age group being educated in my government schools state of Uttar Pradesh. As mentioned in this book, Training and hand holding to teachers is one major step which has brought this change. Teachers have been sent to British University and to IIM Ahmedabad for training. These teachers become guides for Training of other teachers of Delhi Administration Schools.
From schools of excellence to brilliant improvement in the board examinations and state-of-the-art facilities, government schools in Delhi rock. The implementation of innovative concepts like 'happiness curriculum' and 'entrepreneurship mindset programme' in Delhi government schools has brought about revolutionary change in the public school education system in the national capital of India. Manish Sisodia, Delhi's deputy chief minister and education minister, is the visionary instrumental in ushering in such a transformation. Recounting his experiences and experiments as an education minister, this book offers blowby- blow account of this amazing success story. Shiksha, a book of hope and possibilities, will inspire everyone who is poised to make a difference in society through education.
From schools of excellence to brilliant improvement in the board examinations and state-of-the-art facilities, government schools in Delhi rock. The implementation of innovative concepts like 'happiness curriculum' and 'entrepreneurship mindset programme' in Delhi government schools has brought about revolutionary change in the public school education system in the national capital of India. Manish Sisodia, Delhi's deputy chief minister and education minister, is the visionary instrumental in ushering in such a transformation. Recounting his experiences and experiments as an education minister, this book offers blowby- blow account of this amazing success story. Shiksha, a book of hope and possibilities, will inspire everyone who is poised to make a difference in society through education.
July 5, 2020
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
.
Government schooling has always been looked down upon and ignored. Largely because of the unwillingness of our elected leaders who would lay stress on providing education, but never enacted on these plans on ground. But for Manish Sisodia, the current deputy to Delhi’s CM, who took it upon himself to transform the improbable.
.
Sisodia’s current stint as the Education Minister of Delhi has remarkably reshaped the education system of this city’s government schooling. From increasing the education budget to infusing innumerable programs for the development of the poor/middle class students, he has restored the belief in the government and its functioning. I truly hope this effort becomes a benchmark within our Indian polity, for the betterment and upliftment of the society.
.
गुरू गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय।
(both God and my teacher stand in front of me, whom do I bow to)
.
बलिहारी गुरू अपने गोविन्द दियो बताय ||
(I am indebted to you teacher, for you have shown me the way to God) 📚
.
#Shiksha #ManishSisodia
.
Government schooling has always been looked down upon and ignored. Largely because of the unwillingness of our elected leaders who would lay stress on providing education, but never enacted on these plans on ground. But for Manish Sisodia, the current deputy to Delhi’s CM, who took it upon himself to transform the improbable.
.
Sisodia’s current stint as the Education Minister of Delhi has remarkably reshaped the education system of this city’s government schooling. From increasing the education budget to infusing innumerable programs for the development of the poor/middle class students, he has restored the belief in the government and its functioning. I truly hope this effort becomes a benchmark within our Indian polity, for the betterment and upliftment of the society.
.
गुरू गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय।
(both God and my teacher stand in front of me, whom do I bow to)
.
बलिहारी गुरू अपने गोविन्द दियो बताय ||
(I am indebted to you teacher, for you have shown me the way to God) 📚
.
#Shiksha #ManishSisodia
March 9, 2024
This is a book by the Delhi education minister of the Aam aadmi party.
You may be aware about the fact that the Aam aadmi party since the beginning was aiming to work in the education sector. So, this book basically contains all the experiments and challenges faced by Manish sisodia (Delhi education minister) during the overhauling of Delhi government schools.
After reading this you will get to know much more about government schools than you know for sure, be it their working process, government hurdles in improving education.
How does the government think about teachers and much more.
In this book there are glimpses of the happiness curriculum and Entrepreneurship mindset curriculum which was implemented by the Delhi government to improve the quality of education in schools and to prepare the children for the future as job providers not seekers.
The condition of Delhi schools improved drastically after the changes in budget provisions by the government.
It was good read and a must read for anyone who is working in the education sector.
Thanks for writing this book 🙂
You may be aware about the fact that the Aam aadmi party since the beginning was aiming to work in the education sector. So, this book basically contains all the experiments and challenges faced by Manish sisodia (Delhi education minister) during the overhauling of Delhi government schools.
After reading this you will get to know much more about government schools than you know for sure, be it their working process, government hurdles in improving education.
How does the government think about teachers and much more.
In this book there are glimpses of the happiness curriculum and Entrepreneurship mindset curriculum which was implemented by the Delhi government to improve the quality of education in schools and to prepare the children for the future as job providers not seekers.
The condition of Delhi schools improved drastically after the changes in budget provisions by the government.
It was good read and a must read for anyone who is working in the education sector.
Thanks for writing this book 🙂
October 14, 2023
A Must Read for any educator!
This book gives us a sneak peak into the world of politics and the way public schools function.
Mr. Sisodia has laid out clearly that it doesn't take decades or huge budgets to make a change in the field of education.
All it takes is a visionary education minister, a team that shares a similar vision and a whole lot commitment to the betterment of education.
Mindful meditation isn't something that I was aware of. But after reading the positive effects it has had, I'm curious to try it out.
Another interesting part in this book is the development of entrepreneurship in school.
Any government with the will to bring about change and work for the betterment of the people can do so however many choose not to.
Kudos to the Aam Admi party for reforming the public schools in Delhi
This book gives us a sneak peak into the world of politics and the way public schools function.
Mr. Sisodia has laid out clearly that it doesn't take decades or huge budgets to make a change in the field of education.
All it takes is a visionary education minister, a team that shares a similar vision and a whole lot commitment to the betterment of education.
Mindful meditation isn't something that I was aware of. But after reading the positive effects it has had, I'm curious to try it out.
Another interesting part in this book is the development of entrepreneurship in school.
Any government with the will to bring about change and work for the betterment of the people can do so however many choose not to.
Kudos to the Aam Admi party for reforming the public schools in Delhi
January 1, 2022
I love this book and wish everyone would read it - but due to reasons below I give a 3 star rating and not a 5 star rating.
It’s a good and worth reading book and the first one-third or maybe even half of it is good.
However after that the quality of writing / editing and readability deteriorates - and gets worse and worse towards the end of the book.
I had originally bought a copy and marked it with edits, thinking that someday I will send it to mr Sisodia and request for edits to be incorporated - but never quite got down to doing that and wonder that it will always remain like this only.
Also the Hindi translation is not good and almost like the text has been passed through google translate that it’s totally word for word machine translated highly Sanskritised Hindi
It’s a good and worth reading book and the first one-third or maybe even half of it is good.
However after that the quality of writing / editing and readability deteriorates - and gets worse and worse towards the end of the book.
I had originally bought a copy and marked it with edits, thinking that someday I will send it to mr Sisodia and request for edits to be incorporated - but never quite got down to doing that and wonder that it will always remain like this only.
Also the Hindi translation is not good and almost like the text has been passed through google translate that it’s totally word for word machine translated highly Sanskritised Hindi
December 17, 2019
Absolutely loved the content of this book. It's quite informative in terms of methods being adopted in Delhi to revamp the image of government schools. It is poignantly separated into concise sections outlining the various steps involved in changing the stigma and improving conditions of Delhi government schools. My favorite sections from the book include the Happiness curriculum and Entrepreneurship mindset programme. I was motivated by the mentorship chapter to such an extent that decided to join a NGO for providing mentorship to students. A must read for everyone who wish to contribute to the society through the means of education.
May 31, 2020
The book thoroughly shows how a good intention and will power can bring any system from despair to great. Many concepts implemented by the author in Delhi, can be copied by other states with slight modification. The two implemented concepts like “Happiness Classes” and “Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum” are quite groundbreaking and is to be seriously considered by educational experts across India. The only problem with the book is that it is still incomplete, in the sense, that, the author is still continuing his experiments.
May 20, 2021
We have all heard good things about the Delhi model of education. This book takes you into the process of how that model became an inspiration for many. How the Delhi government started from nothing and took the Delhi education board to new heights by introducing so many life-changing programmes. This book is a must-read for people who want our education system to be holistic and not just mugging up certain textbooks and scoring marks. Mr Manish Sisodia and his team are visionary when it comes to uplifting the standard of education.
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