Better system

It is depressing to learn of the poor learning outcomes in the school going age group of six to 14 (“Better system for better results,” June 12). But the problem cannot be addressed by dealing with external factors such as training teachers and providing better infrastructure.

Factors such as environment at home are equally important for a child to develop and sustain interest in learning. Since poverty dominates rural India, the government should seriously look at universalising the public distribution system. Part of the teacher's pay should be made variable, and given based on results in the classroom.

Varad Seshadri,

Sunnyvale

The policy of no-detention till class eight does not exactly motivate children to learn. It is not the fear of exams but the inability to cope that makes children drop out, especially in class nine.

The all-pass policy comes in the way of an average student's development.

J.P. Saulina Arnold,

Chennai