A Good School for Every Child: Shaping a Future of Excellence Through Education

When Disha’s older son was just two years old, his journey in the education system began, much like countless others. Kindergarten classrooms brimmed with colorful learning activities meant to excite young minds. Yet, there was something different about him that no one - not his teachers, peers, or even the system itself - seemed to notice.

At age five, during a colouring session, he was asked to pick up brown. He confidently chose black. It was then that Disha realized her son couldn’t identify certain colors like red and green. Later diagnosed as colorblind, he faced an environment where colors dominated early learning - a reality that went unaddressed for years.

As he progressed, new challenges surfaced. By the ninth grade, career aptitude tests revealed that he struggled with long comprehension passages. Despite having a remarkably creative and analytical mind - he could design models that left his peers in awe - he was told he’d need a writer for his Grade 10 exams. This judgment was based solely on his inability to excel in traditional assessments, rather than an understanding of his unique strengths and learning needs.

His story is not uncommon. It’s a reminder of how rigid education systems often fail to identify and nurture the diverse talents of students. And it is this failure that underscores the importance of reimagining education.

“Every child deserves a good school.” This simple yet profound idea, shared by Kavita Anand, co-founder and Director, Adhyayan, has been a guiding light in our journey as educators. It’s a call to action that resonates deeply, especially on Republic Day, as we reflect on the values of justice, equality, and opportunity enshrined in our Constitution, and the role education plays in turning these ideals into reality for every young person in our nation.

At Adhyayan, we believe that every student deserves equal investment in their education, regardless of their background or circumstances. However, the reality in many schools today tells a different story. In their effort to accommodate the increasing volume of students, schools often prioritize quantity over quality. This has resulted in an education system that, unintentionally, leaves many students behind - students who feel they cannot ask questions, are not good enough, or struggle to find their footing in an environment designed for conformity rather than curiosity.

This focus on quantity comes at a steep cost. It creates young adults who see education as a hurdle to clear rather than an opportunity to explore their passions and find their purpose. These individuals often enter the workforce without a drive for excellence, settling instead for mediocrity. As Kavita aptly put it, “The world is run by people who are so disconnected from what they want to contribute that they don’t do it well.”

The ripple effects of this disconnection are far-reaching. When schools neglect to cultivate a child’s innate interests and potential, society suffers. We see this manifest in subpar infrastructure, industries plagued by inefficiencies, and a lack of innovation across sectors. The root cause often traces back to an education system that failed to instill a hunger for quality and a sense of purpose in its students.

This realisation begs the question: How can we empower our youth to rise above mediocrity and drive change? The answer lies in reimagining our schools as environments that prioritize not just academic success but also personal growth and self-discovery. Schools must become places where students are encouraged to ask questions, explore their passions, and strive for excellence in every endeavor.

Adhyayan’s four flagship programs - AQS Reviews, ASIST, TCLS, and TAP - are designed to address this challenge. These programs empower school leaders, educators, and students to identify “what good looks like” and strive towards achieving it. By focusing on quality education, we aim to nurture young minds that are not only skilled and knowledgeable but also deeply committed to contributing positively to their communities and the nation.

Republic Day is a reminder to reaffirm our commitment to building a future where every child has access to a good school - an education that upholds the values of equality and opportunity for all.

A school that doesn’t just prepare them for exams but prepares them for life. A school that inspires them to dream, equips them to achieve, and instills in them a passion for excellence. Because when we invest in the youth, we invest in the future of our country.

Let us work together to create a generation of young adults who don’t just get by but thrive - individuals who, through their excellence, drive the progress and prosperity of our nation. That is the legacy we owe to our youth, and that is the vision we must tirelessly strive to make a reality.