Education is basic to economic progress.  It is also an answer to social discrimination.  A sound educational system is the need of the hour.  Within the educational system, strengthening of schools must take priority.  Rigour and relevance must be the dominant characteristics of the system. There is, therefore, a lot that needs to be done to improve the quality of our school education.  Policy makers, educational administrators, teachers and parents have an important role to play.  Equally important is the role of philanthropic institutions.  There is no doubt that expenditure on school education as a percentage of GDP must go up.  This is primarily the task of the government.  Yet, at the same time, persons of means must also come forward to supplement the work of the government.  The children of today are the citizens of tomorrow.  The future of India rests on what we do to our school system.