Improving Public Education- Role of Civil Society

Wipro Applying Thought in Schools (WATIS), one of Wipro’s social initiatives, has been engaged in building capacities for school education reform in India for more than a decade. We believe in a social vision of democracy where each citizen not only realizes their potential, but also sees the ethic of equity, the essentiality of diversity and the ethos of justice. Our work is driven by the belief that education is a key enabler of social change, and schools have to be spaces that nurture these principles, capabilities & values.

Our key stratagem in this endeavor has been to partner with civil society and other organizations across the country; and more broadly, to foster a community of organizations and people who lead the thinking about good education in the nation. Through various projects – with diverse organizations and in diverse contexts – we try to explore the idea and extend the popular notion of good education.

Most of our partners have significant experience in working on school education reform, and come with a deep understanding and varied perspectives. Every year we have an event where all partners and other invitees interested in education, come together in a Partners’ Forum. The intention of the Forum is to interconnect and strengthen this community of diverse people and organizations, and take up important debates around education. The forums are reflective and exploratory, consciously bringing in diverse perspectives to development, education and society in general, thus enriching our common knowledge and understanding of social issues. In previous years, it has deliberated on topics such as ecology & education, history & education, and assessments.

‘Improving Public Education- Role of Civil Societies’, was chosen as the topic for the 15th Partners’ Forum. This book is an attempt to share our learning with a larger audience.

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