Shaping young minds at school with pragmatic approaches

“We cannot build the future of our youth but we can build our youth for the future.”-Franklin D.Roosevelt

Education is a need of paramount importance for any individual and society on the whole. With proper education and knowledge, one can find the purpose of one’s life and can live in harmony with people of diverse backgrounds, interests, and professions in society. An early education to the children helps them to grab the basic understanding about various civilizations and how they can occupy a significant position in their respective societies. It is our duty to help our students to connect learning with real life and to provide them with the necessary skills to prepare them for success.

India, with the second largest population, is abode to maximum number of school-going kids in the world. The nation has a decent higher education infrastructure in the world. Since time immemorial, India holds an important place in the global education system. However, there is still an urgent need to reinforce further developments in the education system of the country.

An early childhood education is the first stepping stone towards holistic development; a step that decides their future as well as the future of the country since they will grow up to become part of the society and economy. But inadequate childcare is an alarming issue that needs serious deliberations.

In a country where people are moving forward with industrial and technological developments, government as well as society must keep the focus on early childhood education. The proper development of a child in his early stages in life is very crucial. Hence the need of an excellent primary education. Our education system should be such that it enables our students to think creatively, and to instil an enterprising ability in them. It is really important to understand that a child should be allowed to learn and prosper in a rather natural and creative manner. A child should pursue music, art and poetry from an early age to explore his/her hidden talent. When these creative skills are sharpened by teachers at schools, they can self-actualise their skills and may accomplish the desired goals.

Globally, the Indian school system is the largest, with around 260 million children attending school compulsorily. While enrolments have been on the rise, it is the quality that is lacking, and creating innumerable hindrances in their personal and professional growth. There are more than 16 crore children below the age of 6 who are needed to be guided properly. The numbers of pre-schools are swelling every year, but at the same time, the quality has cutback.

Besides strict adherence to course curriculum, schools must also start course modules and projects that may ensure their overall growth and development. Honing their soft skills and stimulating their curiosity are imperative to widen their intellectual capacity. Not just the reading and writing but to understanding and finding the meaning, solving the problem without surrendering oneself to the give up attitude are the qualities that enhance one’s self confidence and make him/her ready for the future challenges. The core curriculum should be intended in such a way that kids may equip themselves with the skills needed to analyse, scrutinize, and conceptualize pragmatic solutions to create a better world.

Critical thinking, complex problem solving, creativity, collaboration, and digital literacy are considered as some of the future generation skill according to the World Economic Forum. In this endeavour, many modern schools in India are striving constantly to adopt pedagogies that are responsible for overall development of a child’s personality – physically and intellectually, emotionally and socially.

The curriculum encouraging students to explore the environment around them, inspire wonder, and search for answers to questions that are relevant to their daily lives should be developed. If the subject matter is relevant to a child, the learning process is much easier and concepts are retained. There are many ways in which an adult can teach the child to learn about the surrounding. An exposure to external world by going along with children to recreational parks, museums, banks, supermarkets, etc., helps in building their confidence while interacting to the outer world. For quality education, it is necessary to focus on children’s safety, health and happiness. It is also important to observe the child’s need across all the development domains, and at the same time, it is important to create a culture of continuous quality improvement. Apart from all this it is necessary to build a partnership with the children to support quality life.

Children age are like mud. With the proper technique of teaching, schools can mould them into beautiful human beings. Also, it is really important for the parents as well as the school to spur curiosity in them and cultivate their creative senses. The present curriculum in most of the schools creates a fear of failure but the need is to develop an environment, right from the early stage that tells the kids about the importance of failure and resilience. Education has to be aligned with the requirements of today and the context of tomorrow to prepare younger generations for the challenges and opportunities ahead. There is an old Hebrew proverb “Do not confine your children to your own learning for they were born in another time.” It is time to move standards to a new level and to foster an unprecedented school environment for students to grow into successful adults.

An early childhood education is the first stepping stone towards holistic development; a step that decides their future as well as the future of the country since they will grow up to become part of the society and economy. But inadequate childcare is an alarming issue that needs serious deliberations.

Children age are like mud. With the proper technique of teaching, schools can mould them into beautiful human beings. Also, it is really important for parents as well as school to induce curiosity in them and cultivate their creative senses.

Alka Kapur, the principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh India, is an icon in the world of education. She has been the custodian of a school’s ideals, of the beliefs it cherishes and its permanent hopes. Under her inspiring tutelage and leadership, the school has marched ahead in full stride. She is a lady of sublime virtues who carve a distinct niche for her in the hearts of students, parents, and teachers. Her dedication and devotion along with the compassionate nature for the weaker section and downtrodden strata of the society, is worth appreciation. The school has reached the unprecedented heights of success and has entered into a galore of new glory in her august present.

Alka Kapur is a proud recipient of Golden Glory Award 2019, Excellence in Education Award by Delhi Directorate of Education, Inspiring Educator Award by Rocksport, International Educator award 2019 by CED Foundation at Bangkok, Life Empowerment Award by Expressions India and Guru Dron Award 2018.