Education is crucial for fostering individuals’ growth, creating more fair, equitable community, and advancing national progress. India has been continuously progressing in economic development, scientific progress, social fairness, and equity, and the country's leadership is rising globally. Thus, it is incumbent on India to provide an excellent, quality education to all its citizens. India is ambitious to develop a universal high-quality education system that will benefit the students and society in general. India has a considerable population of young people and it will have the highest population of youth in the next decade in the world. Therefore, it becomes imperative for India to provide its young population access to quality education.
One of the greatest apprehensions that looms over most parents at every teacher meeting is the label around the learning capabilities of their child. The discourse often centres on 'good learner' versus 'bad learner'. This binary classification oversimplifies the diverse learning styles and individual affinities for different types of learning. Despite insulated pockets of excellence and some passionate educators, classrooms have been mainly static environments where teachers employ a singular style of teaching, lacking pedagogical support to address individual differences. The one-size-fits-all approach has left many students struggling and contributed significantly to learning and skill gaps - highlighting the urgent need for a more nuanced understanding of educational needs and a more empathetic approach to teaching.
The educational scene in India is going to undergo a sea change, what with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, at the forefront and the relentless march of technology. This change is forcing a new kind of pedagogy—personalized and empathetic—into an education system that, till recently, was heavily dependent upon the outdated ‘good learner’ and ‘bad learner’ binary. Equally, the focus shifts to the acknowledgement of students’ varying learning styles and affinities and the attainment of a learning environment within which every student will be capable of performing well.
At the same time, India's education sector is seeing unprecedented changes; increasing internet penetration and smart device adoption, coupled with a growing demand for quality education. Integrating digital tools, interactive smart boards, unlimited content resources, and engaging learning environments are all rewriting the grammar of schooling. The future of classrooms in India is set to be shaped by three key factors: economic and regulatory influences, content and learning strategies, and technological advancements in education.
The introduction of Smart Boards and Interactive Panels in classrooms has enabled the teaching-learning process to get access to content that enables multi-modal learning and compliments teaching styles. Personalisation in one-to-many scenarios is impossible to achieve without technology. AI-powered adaptive learning systems can identify areas where students are struggling and provide targeted interventions to help them improve. The technological transformation is far from simple gadget integration in the classroom; instead, it paves its way as a complete transformation in both the teaching and learning methods in order to optimize the educational experience for each student within this medium. With further democratisation of content and ubiquitous access to tools and forums, classrooms in India will see teachers, AI and students turn to collaborators to deliver the right combination of content for the teaching-learning process.
The ongoing technological transformation in education will go beyond merely incorporating gadgets in the classroom. It will represent a holistic reimagining of teaching and learning processes to optimise the educational experience in every context and deliver a learning continuum, making students confident learners without labels. While thinking of their child’s learning ability, quite a number of parents start to get their guts in a knot in anticipation of the meeting with the teacher. Very often, such meetings revolve around simplistic labelling. This reductionist way of referring to learners belies the complex tapestry of individual learning styles and needs. Too many classrooms continue to be islands of excellence amidst a committed fraternity of teachers, bound to some single style of teaching that does not reach the unique differences among students. The result of this one-size-fits-all approach has been a tremendous struggle for too many students, making the need for educational needs and compassionate pedagogies all the more pressing.
The Indian education sector is transforming radically, and the impetus has been provided by increasing internet penetration and blanket adoption of smart devices. Social gaps in access, participation, and learning achievement are some of the goals that NEP 2020 looks at bridging, and quality teaching resources are staunch allies in the realization of such goals. Quality teaching resources become an important resource in bridging these gaps in regions that lack infrastructure or teaching talent, therefore, making EdTech solutions important in their function of making quality education accessible and affordable across various segments.
Content and learning strategies are expected to undergo a sea change, especially with the implementation of NEP 2020. This would predominantly shift from rote learning to competency-based learning, focusing on its application and skill development. The blending of micro learning and blended learning is one of the encouraging factors to teachers. It will transform them from being mere curriculum followers to facilitators of holistic human development. It will eventually help the teacher tailor his methods to suit the varied needs of the learner.
Therefore, NEP 2020 and technology driven changes will underpin the future of education in India with greater inclusiveness, empathy, and effectiveness. If it yokes itself to these changes, India would not only rear a generation of learners knowledgeable but also compassionate and resilient to make a positive contribution towards society. The integration of technology in schools under the NEP 2020 is crucial for preparing our students, including those in rural areas, for the future. By equipping them with the necessary digital skills, we can ensure that they are ready for the jobs of tomorrow. This will not only benefit our students but also strengthen India's growth and contribute towards a sustainable future. With the right training and support, students from all backgrounds can harness the power of technology and contribute towards the development of the country. Therefore, the NEP 2020 is a significant step towards building a better future for all. It would be interesting to see how NEP 2020 is integrated in a country with around 15 Lakhs schools.
(The views expressed are personal)
