For a well-rounded personality, it is important for a student to have a strong home-school connect, says Pooja Agarwal

We talk about education incessantly. We discuss and debate about the state of the education system in our country and the need for better and more universities. But should our focus be elsewhere, instead of higher education? What will ensure the best education for the citizens of tomorrow?

Education is not just about putting information in; it is about drawing out from the learner the knowledge, skills and understanding that is lying dormant in him. Clearly then, education can’t be limited to the books and the curriculum. As Gandhi said education must involve the all-round drawing out of the best in the individual; body, mind and spirit.

To prepare our children for life, we have to stop edifying knowledge. Instead, we have to teach them something unique. In this increasingly technology driven world, our children need to learn how to build relationships and how to approach life and work. We need to provide them with opportunities to develop skills such as communication, decision making, independent thinking, teamwork, leadership, creativity, problem solving and others — skills that will make them 21st century ready.

Education begins from the very moment of conception of a child. The child is greatly affected by the parents’ social, emotional and physical state. A happy, healthy parent will bring into the world a happy, healthy child.

Undoubtedly there is little uncertainty that we must focus on building the skills of our learners in the early years. But, one may say that it is one thing to talk about theories, and completely another to translate them into action.

The answer lies in a well-structured, carefully planned, accountable and appropriate curriculum that will create children who respond and react positively to the learning environments. But before all else, we must understand that it is the child who is the curriculum. All planning must be done keeping the child’s needs at its heart and with the awareness that the world around us is dynamic and always in a flux.

Of vital importance is our perception of the educator. In this age, educators are not just licensed professionals at school. Parents, grandparents, friends, along with every person that a child interacts with are his educators. Thus, a strong home — school connect is truly important.

A curriculum that is planned keeping in mind the changed perceptions and roles of the school and the educator along with the needs of the child will undoubtedly be a successful one. If we can create an environment for our young learners that is wholesome, challenging, engaging and motivating, we will surely be able to instil an intrinsic motivation within the children to learn.

Just remember that to nurture the creative and curious spirit of the children — stoke the flame and let the fire burn.

The writer is Founder Director of NatureNurture Eduserv Pvt Ltd