Be future-ready & adaptive, suggests expert at educators' meet in Ambala

A seminar on ‘Overhauling Indian Education System: Growing expectations’ was held in Ambala on Wednesday. Organised by The Tribune Group of Newspapers, in collaboration with Chitkara University, the meet saw the participation of over 40 educators, coordinators, principals and directors of various schools from Ambala, Kaithal and Kurukshetra districts.

Keynote speaker Aadi Garg, psychologist and career counsellor, was the resource person for the seminar. He called upon the educators to be future-ready by using EdTech in the education system.

While interacting with educators, he said, "The National Education Policy-2020 says educate, enlighten and empower by utilising accessibility, affordability and accountability. We have to adapt with the change by analysing and utilising the technology, not replacing things but using the transformational content for the betterment of society. The integration of technology in education has to be done not just in classrooms but also in school managements so that the school workforce is transformed and upgraded to function efficiently."

He called upon principals and directors of schools to be more adaptive and to implement what they think is right. By using immersive learning experience, the productivity, intent and content of the students increases, he said.

“We are only focusing on students, we should follow and focus on self-productivity too. There is also a need to be more responsive. Technology must be used to increase efficiency. Advanced technologies must be used in teaching,” said Garg.

He stressed on the importance of interaction between teachers and parents to ensure smooth transitions and implementation of new ideas for the betterment of the education system and students.

Directors, Principals and coordinators shared their ideas and the challenges being faced by them in the management and education system with the keynote speaker.

Priti Chaudhary, Director, Office of Strategic Initiatives, Chitkara University, shared the methodology being followed by the university for students to ensure quality academic atmosphere. She said, “Each student is important. Chitkara is a research-based university and whatever we do, we do from heart. We are contributing to education from KG to the highest level of education.”

She apprised educators about the industrial and international collaborations, infrastructure and facilities available for students.

The Zonal President of North of Haryana Progressive Schools' Conference and Director of Tulsi Public School, Prashant Munjal, who was the guest of honour at the event, said, “This is a great initiative because such events are the need of the hour. We are a developing economy and to compete with the modern developed world, overhauling the education system must be the topmost priority in the country.”

Saurabh Kapoor, director of Shri Geeta Nand Public School, said, “The field of education is lagging behind. The youngsters don’t want to be educators anymore. They want to do jobs in law firms, MNCs and become CAs, but they are losing interest in becoming teachers. We, as educators, would like to see the involvement of students too in such events in future so that they could learn the value of educationists. Education is a big sector and it can also give big opportunities to children.”

The Principal of Headway World School, Pehowa, Harpreet Kaur Sodhi, said, “Such events help us in running schools more efficiently, bring the required changes and increase the parameters of growth. It is good to embrace the change and move towards growth.”

Principal Chaman Vatika Gurukul Ambala Sonali Sharma, said “Various changes, including NEP, are happening in the education system and through events like these, we also come to know about the new trends in education, how we can collaborate, cooperate and fulfill the expectations of the new education system.”

Gulshan Saini, Coordinator, IG Public School, Kaithal, said “The keynote speaker has given some important ideas and alternative solutions to the problems the management, principal and coordinators face. Holding regular meetings with the staff and sharing ideas can resolve many issues.”

Neelam Sharma, Principal, OPS Vidya Mandir, said, “Events like these make us rethink about the education system. Listening to so many experts makes us reevaluate our way of working so that we can make the education system better for our students and the coming generations.”

Integration of tech into education

The National Education Policy-2020 says educate, enlighten and empower by utilising accessibility, affordability and accountability. We have to adapt with the change by analysing and utilising the technology. The integration of technology into education has to be done not just in classrooms but also in school managements so that the school workforce is transformed and upgraded to function efficiently. — Aadi Garg, psychologist and career counsellor