Innovation is an ever wanting useful phenomenon. It is extremely useful and helpful but there are people who impeach education without investing massively. Infrastructure, a key for education, will be the biggest development ever done in the Education system worldwide. There is a great excitement about various possibilities in this regard. We easily get adapted to new technology and processes. There are discussions about managing schools, interactive white boards, enriched content in classroom and tablets for personalized learning. The days are early for augmented reality and virtual reality programs.
In an exclusive interview with the Chief Executive Officer, he talks about the achievement gaps in literacy and the numerously raising questions tackling the problem.
What do you think the companies should improve when it comes to skill based Education especially in the areas of Fintech and Insurance. What sort of Education ventures can India accept and what sort of Education should be promoted?
To answer your question I will take an example. Everybody talks about demographic dividend for India because we are a young country and most of our current population is below 30 years. However if you don’t find jobs for them it becomes a big liability or us. And therefore skilling them and making them ready is a very important initiative and Skill India is an initiative from the Government of India in the right direction. We support it and we want to see more participation between Industry and Academics only then we will find people who are ready to take up jobs. Jobs in the 21st century are going to be very different from what it was in the past. And therefore, until and unless we collaborate very closely together, we cannot make them job ready. That is an expectation I have from the industry and I think both of us have to take a step[ forward to make it a success.
What more can come from Industries? Do we need bigger schools, bigger colleges, foreign Education. What are the 3 things that you think India needs to consolidify its position when it comes to becoming a decent Education hub?
Infrastructure is the first thing that comes to my mind. Secondly, we need concessional funds from the government or from Institutions. Remember it requires a significant amount of Investment to set up a school today. Thirdly, creating a curriculum that meets the requirement of the industry.
If you look at certain industries like Banking, Insurance, even Technology led, after people come out of colleges or even technical colleges, they have to undergo rigorous induction process. Some of this could be collaborated with Institutes of repute and by the time they actually pass out of these institutes, they are job ready. So, these are the 3 things in my assessment that are the most critical.
What are your 5 tips for someone who is willing to start their Education venture?
I can’t talk about others but I can talk about ourselves. I think first is a vision. Given the plethora of choices that are available today, why one wants to get into Education. I always tell people who want to partner with us,’ Remember what we are creating will outlive all of us. It’s the legacy that you want to leave behind. Second is the kind of impact that you want to make in your surroundings. There was an initiative where every Member of Parliament had to adopt a village. There are 3 basic requirements at a block level, like Infrastructure, Education and Health Care. So, the opportunity to do is limitless.
We all want innovation but each innovation has to be useful. Technology is extremely useful, helpful but if we look at techie minds, they impeach education without investing massively on the same. “My personal experience has shown that Technology will remain a show piece in the classroom, an opportunity of change”.
