Page 45 - EducationWorld June 2020

and Internet bandwidth to provide online teaching-learn- strengthen and expand the integration of technology in
ing for all children. school education, and develop standardised online educa-
On fees waiver/deferment circulars issued by state govern- tion platforms to ensure accessibility to all children
ments to private school managements. 85-90 percent of a • Post-Covid, education will not be the same again.
school’s expenses are fixed. And online education is not Schools need to revamp curriculums to prepare children
child’s play. I and my teachers and IT team have spent for the uncertain future. The focus needs to shift from
many sleepless nights to design an effective online educa- rote learning to developing life skills, building confidence,
tion system. Most private schools solely depend on fees to critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities
meet their expenses. State governments are setting a bad • Central and state governments need to urgently launch
precedent by waiving and/or deferring school fees. massive teacher training programmes for government
and private school teachers, to upskill them in the use of
Top 3 proposals for reforming K-12 education in India. new technologies and pedagogies.
All these years India focused on providing children access
to education, now the time has come to shift focus. My Future plans. Our priority will be on integrating technology
Top 3 reform suggestions: into education and continuously improving our holistic
• The government and private sector must collaborate to blended learning model.

Abhishek Singhania be no fee increase in our institutions
Chairman, JK Group of Education Institutions and no student will be deprived of
education because of failure to pay
n alumnus of Kanpur Uni- tuition fees.
versity, Abhishek Singhania
Ais chairman of the JK Group What are your Top 3 proposals for reviv-
ing and reforming K-12 education in
of Education Institutions com-
prising four schools including the India?
top-ranked Sir Padampat Singha- Covid-19 is here to stay and the edu-
nia Education Centre, Kanpur, Sir cation system will have to adapt to
Padampat Singhania School, Kota, this new normal. My Top 3 propos-
JK Business School, Gurgaon and als:
Sir Padampat Singhania University, • NCERT should focus on creating
Udaipur. Singhania is also co-found- K-12 education content and peda-
er and director of JK Technosoft gogies which can be delivered in
Ltd and head, corporate affairs, JK the blended online/offline modes.
Cement — constituent companies of Blended learning is the future of
the family-owned JK Organisation education
(estb.1918), a $4 billion (Rs.30,000 • Syllabuses of K-12 and higher
crore) industrial conglomerate. tated livelihoods in 198 countries education institutions in India are
and disrupted the schooling of 1.6 not in sync with industry needs.
The Covid-19 crisis has majorly dis- billion children around the world. I Revamp syllabuses and align them
rupted the education system. How has believe the major challenge confront- with industry requirements to boost
the JK Group of education institutions ing Indian education is the sudden graduate employability
responded to this challenge? and unplanned migration to online • The Covid-19 pandemic may
Fortunately, our schools began teaching-learning. Indian students result in closure of government and
investing in online education two and teachers are accustomed to the private schools especially in rural
years ago. Therefore, when the conventional model, and are hence areas. The government should bail
Covid-19 pandemic and national unprepared for this transition. Poor out these schools. It should also
lockdown forced closure of education Internet connectivity is also a major launch a parent education campaign
institutions, our transition to online issue in some urban and most rural to encourage them to send children
teaching-learning was smooth. Our areas. to school post-Covid.
digital infrastructure and content
was ready and teachers and students Several state governments have issued Future plans...
fees waiver/deferment circulars to pri-
were well-prepared to adapt to There will be a lot of uncertainty
virtual education. E-learning in our vate school managements. What’s your to manage over the next two years.
comment?
schools is not limited to academics Therefore, expansion will take a
— it covers co-curricular education The government has taken a compas- back seat. Instead, we intend to
sionate view of the pandemic which
such as dance, music, arts and crafts, focus on improving all aspects of
yoga, physical fitness and sports. has destroyed livelihoods and there- education delivery in the post-Covid
fore issued these fees deferment cir- era, especially by building a digital
What are the major challenges confront- culars. We have also restructured our knowledge repository, emphasising
ing Indian education in the new Covid-19 policies to give parents maximum personality and character develop-
era? flexibility to pay fee either monthly ment and boosting sports infrastruc-
The Covid-19 pandemic has devas- or quarterly. Moreover, there will ture.

JUNE 2020 EDUCATIONWORLD 45