The Cutting Edge

ìYou have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.î

- Dr. Seuss

After nearly three decades of working in Indian school environments, I realised that taking myself in an entirely unexplored direction may be the next best thing to do. Of course, I fulfilled the other two pre-requisites of Dr. Seuss!

My first book, The Deccan Trailblazers ñ Education Icons of Hyderabad, got me hooked on to writing with a purpose.

With The Cutting Edge ñ Iconic Schools, Noteworthy Curricula, Extraordinary Strategies I undertake one more journey as I look to dig deeper, delve into the important aspects of the different curricula, look at their implementation, the challenges faced from within and outside as educators make them work in the Indian scenario, examine proposed tactics, plans and suggestions as each examines the best strategies for our schools.

My book has four sections:

1. THE BOARD GAME ñ a section decoding the jargon, vocabulary and understanding of educational curricula prevalent in our country.

2. CHECKMATE ñ a section dealing with the comparative lexicon and implementation techniques of the major boards of curricula.

3. ALPHA GAMER ñ a section which looks to understand through profiling of educators as to how they employ innovative teaching methodologies with their teams.

4. MAGICAL WHITE KNIGHTS ñ a section which tries to understand the curriculum from the point of view of those stakeholders for whom it has been designed and who learn through it, with it and along with it each day through several years.

With conversations and dialogue, I attempt to unravel the mystery behind the official jargon, decrypt, decipher and reveal the processes involved, the game-changing techniques of the select learning centres/schools/leaders/teachers who break the glass ceiling with regards to understanding the pedagogical maze of this sector.