When one of India’s best-known public schools struggled to find a convincing principal from more than 200 applicants, it raised an uncomfortable question about how the country identifies and develops its school leaders. A few years ago, some of us associated with this magazine were involved with the governing board of one of India’s leading…
Guiding adolescents through correct knowledge
Aromal U, a Biology Teacher at Shri Parshwanath Jain Vidyalaya, Rani, Rajasthan, points out how providing correct information during adolescence helps students to handle physical, emotional, and social changes confidently. Navigating adolescent years As teachers, we guide students, facilitate their learning, comfort them, and support their academic, social, and emotional development. Whenever students face confusion…
English as a skill, not just a subject
Lekshmi S Nair, Subject Matter Expert – Verbal Ability, Department of School Education, Govt of Tamil Nadu, explains how, when English is taught as a skill, students begin to see its purpose beyond the classroom. They learn not just what the language is, but how they can use it in real life. Opening doors beyond…
From compliance to conscious classrooms
Gunjan Tripathi, Vice Principal, Aravali International School, Faridabad, explains that most conversations about an educator’s professional development revolve around Familiar questions. What workshops should we run? Which certifications should teachers pursue? What topics matter most? These are important discussions, but they often overlook a more fundamental question: How do teacher training and mentoring actually live…
Performance-Based Teaching: From Knowledge to Action
Deepak Sharma, Education Strategist | Researcher | Assessment Specialist | Teacher, Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi, with expertise in assessment and educational innovation, explores how performance-based teaching can create classrooms where students learn by doing, thinking, collaborating, and applying their knowledge when teachers are well-prepared, confident, and supported by conducive environments. For decades, classroom…
Learning beyond rules and routines
Richa Pandey, School Leader, The Sky High, Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh, explains that the true purpose of learning lies not in obedience, but in curiosity, reflection and personal growth. From compliance to ownership Traditional classrooms have long been based on the principle of compliance. Students are expected to follow instructions, complete assigned work, memorise information…
The decline of writing in the teaching profession
Many years ago, at one of India’s well-known boarding schools in the Nilgiris, it was customary for housemasters to write a personal letter to the parents of every student in their house at the end of each school term. There were no templates, no standard comments and certainly no software that generated report card remarks…
Belief unlocks every child’s potential
Farhat Feroz, Mental Wellness Educator, Concept of Living Charitable Trust, from Kolkata, West Bengal, points out that true education begins not with marks or examinations, but with the belief that every child has the capacity to flourish. Where belief begins Performance in schools is often measured through marks, results and rankings. Yet, before a child…
Reimagining student assessment
Gaurav Jain, CEO & Co-Founder, Funscholar Innovations Private Limited, Kolkata, West Bengal, talks about how AI is changing the way students learn and teachers assess, making education more personalised, efficient and focused on individual progress. From marks to meaning For decades, student assessment has followed a familiar pattern. Students take up examinations, teachers spend countless…
Building a successful pre-school
Shriharsh Chandak, Founder and CEO of Educare24, Pune, Maharashtra, explains how a successful preschool is built on thoughtful planning, passionate teachers, meaningful parent partnerships and a focus on every child’s growth. The current world is keenly focused on improving the quality of education in the pre-primary space. When looked at closely, this sector presents several…