Unlocking our own potential

Our country India is transforming. One key area we need to still work on is Education, not just Higher Education but also Primary and Secondary. If we look at the statistics we can see the enrolment ratio has shown a steady improvement. But is the outcome matching the expectations? Corporates complain that the young graduates are not job ready, they lack application skills, thinking skills and even the basic communication skills. Colleges and Universities feel schools are not able to provide quality education, students at the time of intake do not have the basics expected at a Higher Secondary level. Schools all over India have their own challenges. We have a set of graduates and post graduates who command large CTC’s, who are able to land MNC jobs and government jobs. We have brilliant students who clear IAS exams and become Civil Servants, become Entrepreneurs and ISRO space scientists. But even in this group a large percentage feel it was their self-study and extra tutorials which helped them achieve the goals, not necessarily the education system. Recently the National Education Policy (NEP) has set the roadmap and guidelines in place for the education to take off. But it will remain a paper plane unless each school and college rise up to the challenge. Level 1: We need to ensure every child by the time she reaches class six is able to read, write, listen and speak. She is able to read a book and understand what the author wants to convey. Think with clarity and write expressively. Listen, watch and learn. Today access to knowledge is much easier than it was 40 years ago, the internet and mobile phone has created a paradigm shift. The way we bypassed laying of telephone lines and jumped to mobile networks and WIFI. Level 2: We have a chance to bypass costly books and tuition by learning online. But do keep in mind this is only possible if we have attained Level 1. ? I take Faculty Development Programs for schools and college teachers across India. If there is one thing which is evident is that we have thousands of passionate teachers. When you hear their stories of overcoming challenges it is inspiring. But there is definitely a need to train and learn. Not many teachers read and write well. Not many teachers have a command on the subject they teach. We will have to create opportunities for them to learn and pick up key skills. We will have to show them how they can augment their teaching methods with the help of technology, accessibility to the internet and artificial intelligence. If there are problems ahead of us then together, we can solve the problem. Towards that vision I wrote a poem for Independence Day.

India is changing, can you feel it too

Infrastructure, good jobs, sincerity in what we do

Children are smarter, sincere and true

Their vision and zeal, will inspire us to renew

Youth are more aware, coming together for change

Environmental challenges and creative interchange

Leaders on the ascent, ready to ask questions

Corrupt getting clipped, policies undergoing revision

Entrepreneurs with ideas, technical and competent

Innovative solutions and building with intent

Girls topping exams, their belief let's affirm,

Women are independent, leading corporate firms

Inclusive education, opportunity for all

Unity in Diversity, together India stands tall

Nothing is impossible, when a nation marches on

A billion pair of hands and a billion brainstorm

India is changing are you feeling it too

The more we all believe, all this and more will be true