Indian Education Congress 2017 witnessed the confluence of learned minds engaged in a panel discussion concerning the demand of a Revolutionary change in the K12 Education sector.
The Presentation Session was embarked by Ms. Poonam Heryani, Head Academics, ASPAM Indian International School, Dubai where she led the entire panel of speakers with questions concerning the changes needed to meet the K12 Education sector
The introduction of Technology has revolutionized education and that has given birth to new modes of education. One of the new modes that have changed the way education is imparted is the K-12 education. K-12 education is an educational concept that is widely gaining in popularity in countries like United States of America, Canada and India as well, among other countries. This kind of educational system is different from the conventional method of teaching and involves a more teacher-student communication than the conventional version.
Ms. Poonam Heryani, Head Academics, ASPAM Indian International School, Dubai
How school leaders are taking a challenge from transforming Traditional schools into an innovation hub.
In India, Children, at a very early age are expected to think differently. They are entrusted with the belief of thinking out of the box. People should understand that Education is not just about delivering content. It has a cultural aspect too that states the collaboration between network values and ethical values.
Ms. Poonam in her speech said, the child learns the maximum in the age gap between 0-7 which is also considered to be a critical age for the children. Talking about Revolution, it carries the burden of some drastic effects. Everybody should take charge of the Revolution and ensure that it gets the right outcome.
Mr. Sreevats Jaipuria, Vice Chairman, Seth M.R. Jaipuria Schools
How Quality Education can be made accessible to everybody?
Mr. Jaipuria is of the mindset that, “I think, as an entrepreneur, it is very important when we use words like Revolution. To be very specific, it should be very clear what it means to each one of us”.
For me, Revolution is the increasing paying capacity in people, especially the people getting into the middle class and lower middle class. They have an aspiration for Education, which we believe can be given justice to by providing Quality Education at a cost that is extremely affordable.
In my opinion, we can reach significant portions of the population where the private players have hesitated in going before.
Mr. Jaipuria concluded his speech saying, “As I see the future of Education in the next 5 years, there is a dire need of many private entrepreneurs supplementing what the government is doing and providing better quality Education with an affordable cost to eventually improve value delivery”.
Dr. Suresh Reddy, Director, SRF Foundation
How are they trying to make a difference in the K12 Education with your vision?
In SRF Foundation, we aim to scale up good quality Education for the benefit of the people. We wish to transform the government schools and modern schools for a build up drive.
Dr. Reddy gave an insight about the SRF Foundation’s vision and goals. “Our vision is to achieve quality education and training that inspires children and youth from all sections of society to achieve individual aspirations and building a better society for tomorrow, through the knowledge, skills and values acquired”
We are trying to fill the gaps with our CSR efforts of the SRF Family. SRF Limited has a firm belief that as a corporate citizen, it has a greater role to play in society's development, beyond mere profit generation. Thus the Foundation will also carry CSR mandate of SRF Limited to the SRF business units. For instance, with the help of the Foundation, SRF Limited is deeply involved in promoting school education, vocational skills, women empowerment, natural resource management and sports promotion in and around nine of SRF plant locations spreads across India
Dr. Palana Rathiinam, Chief Executive Officer, AKARA Education and Chairman- AKARA Foundation
The Chairman of AKARA Foundation in his speech proposed 2 questions that concern K12 Education in India.
As teachers, why is it getting difficult to make every child excel?
Why are the highly intellectual students not performing in their fullest potential?
He stated that, children at a very early age carry learning gaps in their shoulders. And without intending to fill those gaps, they find themselves struggling in the Higher Education mark.
The fault lies in the system in terms of design and delivery where teachers are incapable of providing proper guidelines to the students. The situation comes down to a place where a good student becomes better while a bad student slides down to worst.
Every problem comes with a solution. “In AKARA, the solution we have implemented solution of ‘PALMS’, the acronym for Personalized Adaptive Learning Method for success.
As, Technology is increasingly integrated in the fabric of K-12 education, there should be use of adaptive content using technology, supported with mentoring. Children at the K12 level should be given external opportunities to inculcate more ideas and innovations in their study, Mr. Palana further added.
