Published
January 5, 2019
How children learn is often more important than what they learn. The Indian education system has consistently placed emphasis on learning the standardised curriculum. Students are often rewarded on the basis of how well they can reproduce passages and theorems from their textbooks and not on their understanding of the concept itself. Consequently, the approach to education has been static and bookish, with focus on the child’s marks and rank instead of their overall development.
Traditional schools often try to find out what a child can do across a narrow spectrum of subjects – mostly related to math and science. While such topics are important, it might not be where the child’s talent lies. A holistic education has to give equal importance to a variety of subjects – from science to the arts, humanities and even physical education. Curiosity is a spark all children are blessed with, and in order to ignite it, they need to be exposed to a broad curriculum that celebrates various talents.
“All children are born artists; the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up” – Pablo Picasso
Every child is creative in their own way and it is the role of a teacher to find and foster creativity. Teaching is a creative profession as well, and great teachers are those who mentor, simulate and engage. Unfortunately, most teachers focus more on teaching the syllabus rather than facilitating learning. Education is all about putting the child first and facilitating the development of their talents. It is not about memorising, but about rationalising and analysing.
Embracing technology and the myriad of tools it provides also goes a long way in imparting quality education. By combining technology with extraordinary teachers and a curriculum that allows children to express themselves freely, schools will be able to help forge a brighter, happier future for the adults of tomorrow.