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Teachers need to be trained to children need.
use AI and mentor students to use With Indian education in the
ChatGPT responsibly. Since plagia- process of reinventing itself by
rism will become widespread, teach- aligning with the recommendations
ers need to be adequately trained to of the National Education Policy
recognise plagiarised content and 2020, this would be an ideal time for
educate students about proper cita- stakeholders to discuss this pertinent
tion practices and the importance of issue and flower the talents of India’s
original thinking. gifted children.
Mita Malhotra Narasimha Rao
DELHI CHENNAI

Transformative initiative Inspiring education model
I ENJOYED reading your Special THE STORY ‘Extraordinary educa-
report on ‘EW-BSAI Education Lead- tors’ (EW January) is a fitting tribute
JANUARY 2025 ership Retreat Varanasi 2024’ (EW to the trio of Meenakshi and Ajay
January). Many congratulations on Dalmia and Pavan Iyengar who are
ideating this transformative initiative redefining school education through
Great responsibility for the benefit of education leaders. their learn-by-doing model involving
YOUR COVER story ‘Artificial Intel- I have a suggestion to make: educating head, heart and hands.
ligence: Leapfrog opportunity for expand the ambit of delegates from I was pleased to read that Drive
Indian education’ (EW January) was school principals and promoters, to Change Learning and Resource Cen-
timely and welcome. World over, teachers and senior students. Teach- tre (DLRC) children work in fields,
schools have started leveraging the ers will contribute valuable and and also learn plumbing, carpentry,
power of AI to improve teaching- practical insights based on their day- welding and toy-making skills at
learning practices, and engineering to-day experiences in the classroom, youngest age. This is commendable
colleges are offering courses in AI and students can provide a unique in a country where it’s common for
and machine learning which are in perspective on how school policies engineering graduates from best in-
great demand. and programmes impact their learn- stitutes to have no idea of how to fix
AI is gradually becoming an ing and well-being. a light bulb or change a car wheel.
indispensable part of our day-to-day Ruchi Kashyap via E MAIL Such stories inspire others in the
lives. We must make every effort profession to adopt creative and ef-
to introduce AI to children, albeit fective teaching methodologies. May
responsibly. Enable gifted children their tribe increase!
Thanmaya Shekar YOUR INSIGHTFUL Teacher- Payal Sengupta via E-MAIL
MUMBAI 2-Teacher essay ‘Importance of nur-
turing gifted children’ (EW January)
has belatedly beamed a spotlight on Wrong priorities
Groundwork precondition India’s vast multitude of gifted chil- YOUR EDUCATION News from Kar-
THE JANUARY cover story offers dren who need to be nurtured by an nataka ‘Populism price’ (EW Janu-
an insightful analysis of how AI educational ecosystem that empow- ary) highlights the irresponsibility
can revolutionise India’s education ers them to realise their full potential of the state’s Congress government
landscape, highlighting its potential for the ultimate benefit of society. which is focused on distributing
to instantly assess learning deficits I agree with Mahika Shishodia freebies to fulfill their pre-election
and provide personalised remedial that the key to realising their full po- promises, rather than upgrading
education. tential is identifying gifted children crumbling government schools and
But to make AI a reality in schools, early and providing them differen- colleges.
especially government schools, India tiated curriculums and sufficient It annoys me that taxpayers’ hard-
needs to do a lot of groundwork. emotional and social support. earned money is being doled out to
First, it needs to invest in building Yet the reality is that India’s people, disincentivising them to find
digital infrastructure that includes under-resourced school education productive work. Wake up CM Sid-
computers and Internet connectivity system and understaffed higher daramaiah!
in government schools followed by education institutions are not in a Rudrakumar Gowda
intensive teacher training. position to deliver the support gifted MYSURU

12 EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2025