Letter to BS: Teachers' quality, not infrastructure, ensures good outcomes

Passion helps overcome the physical hurdles in the profession particularly in rural areas where many amenities are missing

This refers to “Infrastructure of opportunity” (October 21) by Manish Sabharwal and Ashok Reddy. It is an incisive analysis of the poor state of affairs in government-run schools in terms of teacher performance and governance. There is sufficient anecdotal and other evidence to show that it is the quality of teachers rather than the infrastructure that ensures great learning outcomes among students.

These qualities are both tangible and intangible. The former (such as qualification or experience) can be recognised, measured and rewarded by say, good pay and incentives. But the latter comes from within the individual. The passion for teaching is