Indian schools are restructuring their approach to education to compete with global standards, says Shobha Sivaramakrishnan
The Indian education system has witnessed a multi-fold change in the past few years. The change in the education requirements, environment and competition has necessitated a need for schools to restructure their approach to education. Upgrading their curriculum is the most important step in this direction. Schools are implementing curriculum that is relevant, updated and immersive to make education interactive, engaging and meaningful for students while aiding them in competing at a global level.
Over the years India has seen many reformations in the education system and owing to the pandemic, there has been a paradigm shift in the education system with the emergence of online classes, blended learning and a hybrid education model. Schools are delivering educational content that is at par with the global standards and curriculum focusing on developing critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. A new method of teaching, assessment and training is also making students shine at a global level thus boosting their confidence and increasing opportunities.
Earlier in India, most of the learning was through rote methods where the focus was on memorising the topics rather than understanding them. However, over the years this teaching method has evolved and today schools focus on conceptual understanding and experiential learning which ensures students learn through research and various hands-on means which aid in applying their learning to real-world situations.
Curriculum is given prominence
Schools are trying to move away from the vertically integrated stack like curriculum and classes, pen-paper assessment, as there is a lot more to education than these aspects.
Taking a cue from the global education system, schools in India have started building their in-house curriculum that meet international standards, keeping in mind the need to get students future-ready. With more students aspiring to pursue higher education in universities around the world, schools have realigned their teaching methods along with the content. This transformation has made students successful in gaining more prominence on the global level.
Along with the academic curriculum, students in many schools are also encouraged to take additional micro-courses like gardening, poetry, entrepreneurship and more which help them unwind and also explore shared interests. These courses also build life skills in students.
Inclusive learning and a multidisciplinary approach to education are the other alterations undertaken by many educational institutions to be at par with schools around the world. Students are exposed to new and diverse learning experiences which enable participation, remove barriers and anticipate various learning needs and preferences.
Improvement in the infrastructure
In an offline education model schools are considered as the second home of a child. A good school infrastructure with renewed spaces contributes positively to students' progress in learning. Good natural conditions such as lighting and ventilation, age-appropriate learning spaces offer flexible learning opportunities that students can adapt and personalise. Connections between learning spaces that are easy to navigate provide additional learning opportunities. Considering this, the schools of today are designed to offer world-class facilities to the students which aid in their overall development.
Technology-based education
Technology has revolutionised the field of education and has become an integral part of learning. It is included as part of the curriculum, as an instructional delivery system, as a tool to enhance the entire learning process. Education has moved from passive and reactive to advanced and interactive methods. Children are learning coding at the age of six-seven years. New-age technologies like AI, IoT and robotics have become a part of the curriculum at the school level. Students are encouraged to pick up projects in their area of interest in these subjects enabling them to compete with kids in their age group globally.
Tech-led education
With the onset of the pandemic, schools have resorted to virtual learning and utilising the online learning platforms efficiently. This has reformed the education system in India where remote learning at the school level was never considered as an option. The new tech-led education model has also opened up newer opportunities for the students where they can apply to foreign universities and study remotely from their home city. This online mode of education has also enabled younger students to take up additional courses of their choice aiding their development.
NEP is a welcome change
The introduction of NEP has transformed the image of the Indian education system. NEP is aimed at making learning more inclusive, vibrant and practical. According to the policy, there is increased flexibility in the choice of subjects for the students. The main objective of this new policy is to provide equal importance to curricular, co-curricular and vocational subjects. The NEP will focus on providing seamless opportunities for the students from government schools also. The government is looking at improving the infrastructure and education system of the government schools and providing equal opportunities for students in the rural areas and make them ready to take up any kind of challenge without inhibitions.
In a nutshell, the NEP aims at building a global best education system rooted in Indian ethos, where children from all walks of life benefit and get increased opportunities thereby transforming the Indian education system.
However, this transformation has to reach the rural areas to enable children to get increased opportunities to explore and fulfill their dreams.
(The author is the head of Ekya Schools Learning Centre.)