Snehlata Prize 2026

Episode Summary: In this episode recorded at The English Book Depot, family, colleagues, and friends gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Smt. Snehlata. The conversation covers the power of reading, teacher training, the announcement of the Snehlata Prize 2026, and plans to continue Snehlata’s work through monthly reading sessions and the Good School Alliance. Mrs Brinda Ghosh is announced as the 2026 Snehlata Prize recipient for her 47-year contribution to education and teacher development.

Discussing Assessment Methods in Education

Reading from the book What Did You Ask At School Today? by Kamala Mukunda

Recording Summary - January 30, 2026

Fridays @ EBD focused on discussing assessment methods in education, particularly exploring alternative approaches to traditional testing. The participants, including teachers and students, shared experiences and perspectives on collaborative testing, portfolio assessments, and rubrics. They discussed the challenges and benefits of these methods, including their potential to reduce test anxiety and promote deeper learning. The conversation also touched on emotional health in schools, with participants sharing examples of how their institutions support students’ mental well-being. The conversation ended with a discussion on academic emotions and their impact on learning, emphasising the importance of recognising and addressing students’ emotional states in the educational context.

Sandeep Dutt

Over 25 years of work, IT and social media skills, education consulting and social entrepreneur make Sandeep of EBD a good mentor for the team. We now offer our skills for conducting workshops and mentoring entrepreneurs.

Guide to good schools of India

Sandeep Dutt’s compilation, Guide to Good Schools of India,  now in its seventh edition, is a useful handbook.  It is useful, of course, to parents, at whom it is primarily directed.  Education—and when I say education in this context, I mean private education—is booming in India.  Drive through any small to big town or city in India, and you will see evidence of the boom.  From paper leaflets to huge billboards, the advertising of new schools is relentless.  Some people are offended by this.  I must admit to a degree of discomfort at the way that we are assailed by the arrival of a new school.  Yet, what is undeniable and heartening is that this is evidence of the boom in education—and in the long run that can only be good.  More schools mean more opportunities and choices for India’s children and parents.

How, though, should parents choose amongst the array of schools available?  Should they opt for an old, established school?  Should they instead try out a new, innovative school?  Is a day school or a residential school better for their child and their family?  What kind of fees should they expect to pay for what kind of facilities?  Is a co-educational school suited to them or a single-sex school?  This book does not answer all these important and challenging questions, but it does lead us towards some answers by giving us data on a whole range of residential schools.

Dutt’s Guide to Good Schools of India is not just a useful handbook for parents.  It is also a good starting point for education professionals—teachers, principals, school management, and officials and other policy makers—and the general public that might be interested in such matters.  I looked through the pages of the volume with a fair degree of curiosity:  who were these other good (residential) schools of India apart from the ones that quickly come to mind?  What do the old and new schools offer?  How much are we all the same, and how much do we differ?  Dutt has not written a Ph.D. thesis on these issues; but he has given education professionals a tantalizing peak into the fast-changing world of residential schools.

We in India are not very good at producing handbooks and simple, informative material for consumers.  Sandeep Dutt has pioneered the effort for schools.  I hope he continues to provide this service, indeed to improve it with each edition.

Dr. Kanti Bajpai
Former Headmaster,
The Doon School, Dehra Dun

www.gsi.in

Good Schools of India

Press acclaim for the book Guide to Good Schools of India, 

published by EBD

‘All that you ever wanted to know about boarding schools in India.’

 -The Telegraph, Calcutta

‘Worth reading even for the general reader.’ 

-The Times of India, New Delhi

‘A very, very good book.’

 -Mid Day, Mumbai

‘A very useful book ...’ 

-The Tribune, Chandigarh

‘A detailed and comprehensive description of over hundred residential schools.’ 

-The Hindu, Chennai

‘The book, a first in India, is a commendable effort which will help parents weigh carefully all the available options for their children.’ 

-Business India

‘A useful effort’ 

- Cyber News, Business India

‘Finally we have a good book on the residential schools in India.’ 

- Schools

‘Where they are? What they cost you? Descriptions of the best residential schools in India.’ 

-India Today

‘A book which can greatly assist parents make a judicious choice of an institution for their children.’ 

-United News India

‘The book acts as a very helpful guide for parents and guardians wanting information on appreciable residential schools in India.’ 

-The Statesman, Calcutta

‘The book is a great boon for parents...’ 

-Garhwal Post, Dehra Dun

‘A useful book if you are caught on the horns of dilemma while deciding where to send the apple of your eye for “good” education.’  

- The Tribune

‘Sorted by name, affiliation - Central Board of Secondary Education, State Secondary Boards, International Baccalaureate and so on - and type (boys, girls or co-ed), the site offers exhaustive information on schools from Sharanabasveshwar Public School in Gulbarga, Karnataka, to Donyi Polo Vidya Bhawan in Itanagar, Arunanchal Pradesh.’  

- Cyber Chatter; India Today

‘This exclusive website is for Parents, Teachers and Students alike. In addition, it is a good resource for the Schools too. Packed with valuable information and supported by educationists and the school community, it presents to the World the top residential schools of India.’ 

- Kashmir Times

‘This invaluable compendium lists nearly a hundred top residential schools in India and will benefit both the parent and child in making the decision to enter a renowned portal of learning.’ - 

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