Page 65 - EducationWorld June 2020

Dr. Suresh Reddy our efforts to continue the teaching-
Chairperson, Candor International School, learning process. We have also taken
the admission process for the new
Bangalore academic year online.
r. Suresh Reddy is founder- Major challenges confronting Indian
chairperson of the Saketh K-12 education in the Covid era. The
DEducational Trust and the pandemic has exposed the inequities
Cambridge International (UK) of the country’s education system
and IB (Geneva)-affiliated Candor with millions of children from
International School, Bangalore socio-economically disadvantaged
(estb.2010), ranked among India’s households unable to access virtual
Top 15 day-cum-boarding interna- learning. And with schools closed
tional schools by EducationWorld. for over three months, all children
He is also director, LearnBeyond, an are deprived of peer interaction and
affordable, cloud-based eLearning physical/sports education. • Our education system needs new
solution and Sai Srushti Group, a Top 3 proposals for reforming K-12 pedagogies and 21st century curricu-
strategic investments company. lums to prepare children for a con-
education.
Candor International’s Covid-19 re- • There’s too much emphasis on stantly changing world. I am inspired
by the words of Michael Chui of the
sponse. Candor was an early mover academics in Indian K-12 education. McKinsey Global Institute: “Prepare
in switching to online learning in School curriculums should promote today’s young people for a world of
virtual classrooms. For over three a balance between academic rigour constant uncertainty.”
months, our teachers have been and co-curricular and sports educa-
actively engaging students with high- tion. Future plans… Next year, we are
quality interactive content as well • Government should focus on bridg- starting a new day-cum-boarding
as video messages about health and ing the digital divide and ensuring campus in Tirupati, Andhra
safety precautions. Our parents com- online education reaches all children, Pradesh in association with the Na-
munity has also actively supported especially in rural India. tional Public School, Bangalore.

Alka Kapur State governments’ fees waiver/defer-
Principal, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi ment circulars to private schools. Teach-
ers are frontline education warriors
working long hours during this crisis
lka Kapur is principal of the CSBE-affil-
iated Modern Public School, Shalimar to nurture future citizens. The school
ABagh, Delhi (MPS, estb.1971), which has campus is closed, but not school. Our
2,540 students and 95 teachers on its muster teachers are keeping the education
rolls. Kapur is also president of the Delhi Saho- continuum going. If schools can’t
daya School Complex, an association of CBSE collect duly contracted fees, teachers
schools in the national capital and proactive can’t be paid their salaries. I request
member of the Action Committee for Unaided all parents and governments to make
Recognised Private Schools and Forum of Pub- this connection and not damage
lic Schools private unaided schools.
MPS Covid-19 response. MPS was one of the first Top 3 proposals for reforming K-12
schools in the national capital to intensively education in India. First, national and
utilise digital technologies which enabled us to continue state exam boards should overhaul K-12 curriculums to
the teaching-learning process after the nationwide closure develop critical thinking, knowledge application, col-
of education institutions in end March. Under the Micro- laboration, communication, and life skills of children.
soft Aspire School Programme, MPS’ classrooms quickly The country needs innovators, entrepreneurs and prob-
went digital, and students and teachers were given access lem solvers. Second, government must promote use of
to licensed software and Office 365 tools. Moreover, Atal technology in K-12 education, especially in government
Tinkering Lab and astronomy classes, dance and music schools. This can become a gamechanger. Third, the
sessions, yoga and sports activities are also being con- Central and state governments should launch a massive
ducted online. Moreover, virtual teacher training sessions national capacity building programme for teachers to
are being continuously held to ensure our faculty remains prepare them to effectively use new digital technologies
abreast of latest teaching-learning practices. and pedagogies.
Major challenges confronting Indian education in the Covid era. Future plans... Every dark cloud has a silver lining. This
The major hurdles are lack of robust digital infrastruc- dark corona cloud is an opportunity for MPS to recali-
ture, poor Internet connectivity and equipping teachers brate and perfect its online pedagogies; establish links
with digital skills and pedagogies to adapt to virtual learn- with schools in India and abroad to share best practices;
ing. Moreover, it’s difficult to maintain the integrity of intensify teacher development programmes and introduce
examinations and assessments in the online medium. STEM and transdisciplinary/interdisciplinary learning.

JUNE 2020 EDUCATIONWORLD 65