Presentation given by Dr Anita Priyadarshini, Director, Distance Education Programme – SSA, Indira Gandhi National Open Universityon July 14,2011 at WORLD EDUCATION SUMMIT (www.worldeducationsummit.net) in the School Education Track: CREATING EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOL EDUCATION: FUNDAMENTALS FOR POLICy MAKERS, PRACTITIONERS AND EDUCATIONISTS

1. Creating Excellence in School Education: Fundamentals for Policy Makers, Practitioners and Educationists Dr. Anita Priyadarshini Project Director Distance Education Programme- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, IGNOU New Delhi, India

2. School system and within the school system, the elementary school system, is the foundation upon which the edifice of a nations education system stands

3. Need for a collaboration between the different systems of education

4. School Education/Basic Education is a national commitment for all nations

5. Excellence in schooling needs convergence of vision between Policy makers, Practitioners and Educationists

8. Access, equity, curriculum and content, issues of equivalence, teacher training, resource management, infrastructure development Challenges facing School Education

9. Curriculum and Content -Encouraging children to construct their own knowledge -Greater freedom to the child in choice of subjects -Differentiated pace of learning in subjects -Opportunity for lifelong learning