Teachers, parents must unite to make kids future ready

Pankaj Joshi , principal, Kundan Vidya Mandir, talks to Shivani Bhakoo about his experience in education and how it has changed with time.

Tell us about your experience as an educator?

With about 28 years in school education, a large part of it being in administrative and leadership roles, I have had the privilege of serving in reputed IB, ICSE, IGCSE and CBSE schools like The Doon School, Dehradun.

I have been involved with the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) in the capacity of senior examiner and workshop facilitator. I have been principal of Academic World School, Bemetara, Chhattisgarh, and am currently serving as principal of Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana.

What is the role of parents and teachers in a student’s life?

While teachers direct academic and social development in an organised setting, parents are a child’s first educators, forming their fundamental beliefs, attitudes, and motivation. Effective future shaping takes place when parents and educators work together to consistently encourage and guide students in becoming self-assured, responsible, and lifelong learners.

Through early interactions, rituals, and ideals, parents set the tone for their approach towards learning. They nurture children emotionally, educate them how to deal with challenging emotions, and serve as behavioral role models, all of which contribute to the development of character, resilience and self-confidence.

By encouraging hobbies and supporting their academic journey outside of formal schooling, parents can help children develop into autonomous, inquisitive learners.

Why has education become so expensive?

Due to reasons like inflation, technical developments, and the commercialisation of education, the cost of education has increased alarmingly.

This has a major financial impact on families at all educational levels, from K-12 to higher education, including studying overseas. The annual rise in school expenses (10-12 per cent) is often more than overall inflation.

Higher tuition fees for colleges and universities is a result of the growing commercialisation of education. Higher prices are a result of investments in new technologies for both online and offline learning. The total cost rises as facilities are upgraded and services such as extracurricular activities, career placement, and mental health support are included.

Parents often complain about the lack of transparent pricing and the absence of effective government regulations to control the costs of school-supplied materials. Despite rules often existing against forced sales, enforcement can be weak.

How can we shape a better future for kids?

A comprehensive strategy that goes beyond traditional academics to emphasise the development of vital life skills, creating a supportive environment, and preparing students for a world that is changing quickly is needed to shape a better future for kids.

The future workforce will value critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and adaptability more than rote learning. A student’s progress and well-being are significantly impacted by their learning environment, both inside and beyond the classroom. Every student learns differently, and we must acknowledge this. To accommodate each student’s unique talents, interests, and speed, use adaptive technologies and customised learning experiences.

By relating academic ideas to current affairs, real-world problems, and possible career choices, a competent teacher will constantly assist students in understanding the “why” behind what they are learning. Social and emotional learning (SEL), which includes stress management, empathy, and self-awareness, must be given top priority.

Is competition among students over better grades healthy?

Depending on a number of variables, including the school’s context, each student’s perspective, and the way the competition is handled, competitiveness for higher grades can be either good or unhealthy.

Students might be highly motivated by competition to put in more effort and pursue perfection. It fosters the growth of critical life skills, including problem-solving, resilience, time management, and sportsmanship. When students are motivated to compete with themselves and enhance their prior achievement rather than just outperform others, competition is healthier.

What difficulties do you face on job?

Managing irrational expectations from parents over their child’s performance, resolving conflicts over student behaviour or academic decisions, and resolving communication failures between home and school are all challenging circumstances involving students and parents. Procrastination, stress, and peer pressure are other issues that children must cope with. These issues can cause conflict and call for cooperation between parents, teachers and students.