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The Question of Accountability in Education is Vital: China’s New Education Reform Shows the Way

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  Synopsis : Positioning states, society, and schools as service providers, China’s new education reform makes parents solely accountable for their children’s success in education; whereas in India’s New Education Policy 2020, accountability question hasn’t been addressed, parents have merely been coopted; states, schools, and tuition companies continue to play lion’s role with little accountability. China has passed a new education reform law recently making parents responsible for family education; while state, schools, and society are to provide guidance, support, and service for the family education; consequently, parents are responsible for balanced development of children: education, physical exercise, rest, and recreation; making sure they’re not addicted to internet and are not overburdened with academic exercises. Even before these reforms, China’s school education has been world’s envy for quite some time; in 2018, for 15-year-old students, their PISA scores in ma...
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Infinity : the New Logo of Facebook-Meta, Does it mean an Insanely Large Number

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If infinity were to be an insanely large number, it wouldn’t be infinity, it would be precisely that number. In fact, infinity isn’t a very large number but is a promise to be larger than the largest number; if the largest number is 9, infinity is 10; if it is one Googol, infinity is one Googol and one. In short, infinity is a very competitive minded concept, has no fixed value, guaranteed to be larger than the largest, always remaining beyond-reach. The truth is: infinity is not a number at all but is a statement of fact that there is no greatest number.  Class 1 arithmetic explains the process of infinity: if you add 1 to a given number, you get its successor number, and the successor number is greater than the predecessor number. For instance, to get the successor number of 9, add 1 to it; viz, 9+1=10 and 10 is greater than 9. This very process ensures infinity: to get a number larger than an insanely large number: just add 1 to it, the resultant sum will be a greater number. Th...
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Check Your Numeracy in 5 Easy Multiple Choice Questions

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  Invincible Publication   Numeracy means having a sense of numbers.   Not   only it means comparing, adding, subtracting numbers, but also creating and keeping records of numbers by measuring various quantities using rulers, measuring tapes, weighing scales, graduated flasks, watches, timers, calendars, compass, maps, etc. 1 You’ve got your shopping bill in a supermarket:   a You pay the bill and throw it in the nearest dustbin. Computer is always right.   b You pull out your calculator, add individual items to the nearest paise, pay up only if bill exactly tallies with your sum.   c You add individual items “rounded to nearest 100” in your mind, if bill total is plus/minus 100 to your rounded sum, you pay otherwise check in detail.   2 A hinge of your wardrobe is broken: ...
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Companies Are Selling Coding Classes to Kids Above 5, Should You Buy?

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  Synopsis : Do coding classes for kids above 5 make them logical, creative thinkers, and systematic problem solvers? Or is this one of many money-spinning ideas at the cost of kids’ vital education on regular academic subjects like mathematics, sciences, social science, games, etc.? How far is their claim credible and should you go for it? Can you make your kids logical and creative thinkers using regular academic subjects? With multi-million-dollar budget, the tech-education companies are asking kids above 5 to join coding classes; they claim that learning coding will make kids logical and creative thinkers and systematic problem solvers- breaking down a problem into several small components, solving each of them. They managed to create quite a stir about it by advertising with pictures of famous tech-personalities like Bill Gates. Mercifully, Advertising council put a stop to those unfair and unethical advertisements. But the message had already gathered momentum so much s...
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                     What do you call water in arithmetic? Water (𝐻2𝑂) is made up of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen, whereas hydrogen and oxygen are not made up of any other elements. In fact, there are 94 natural elements-arranged in a table called periodic table- which make up all matter in this universe. In periodic table, hydrogen is #1 and oxygen is #8.  Take number 6; which is made up of one atom of 2 and one atom of 3 i.e., 6=2 × 3. In contrast, 11 is not made up of any other element. The basic elements in arithmetic periodic table are 2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23,29, etc. These elements are called prime numbers and they make up all numbers in this universe.  For example, take number 12, it is made up of two atoms of 2 and one atom of 3 i.e., 12 = 2 × 2 × 3 . Furthermore, 12 can’t be broken down into any other smaller element; its composition is unique.  What do you call water in arithmetic?...
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  The primary mathematics taught -from class 1 to 5-builds the ground which supports secondary mathematics, and is vital for students’ success in those years. When it is brought together and presented in one logical sequence, it becomes simpler and easier to understand; it avoids repetition, goes to the heart of the subject, and makes interconnections visible. This is the only book which covers five years of mathematics in one small volume and it will give you a perspective that is impossible to get anywhere else.   There are nine numbers-1 to 9- what this book begins with and gradually builds up to class 5 using simple language. It explains different number systems, basic operations, and their properties using number line, set, and algebra. It stresses fractions and decimals-the key topics- which form the adult world of numbers. It has 5 parts, 14 chapters, and 160 lessons; each part covers one major objective; each chapter begins with a map showing key ideas graphically; e...
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Pandemic lessons: Long term equity investment

  This one ended happily: One day in July 2019, a friend asked me to help her with an investment problem. We discussed her financial position; which was strong and stable. She didn’t need the money then or ever. Initially, I proposed a 100 pc illiquid structure: 50 pc equity and 50 pc corporate debt. But she demurred and wanted some portion liquid. So, we agreed on 10 pc liyquid and 90 pc illiquid division. We also agreed to divide the illiquid portion equally between debt and equity. She chose fixed deposits for liquid investment and I chose NPS for illiquid investment. Money got invested. NPS-National Pension System- is a regulated entity, its products are illiquid until 60 years of age. It is famed for its low expense structure and easy online investment and monitoring facilities. It also allows you to redistribute your money -once a year- between equity and debt, ranging from 0 pc to 100 pc. Hardly one week had passed, when she began hassling me. Though she had agreed for...
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