Knowledge
Educationist Kanak Gupta Shares Lessons Learnt On School Reopening From Around The World
The case for blended learning: the importance of social development

“We are going to deny kids the full school experience, social interactions and that would be a regrettable travesty I feel. The lessons part of it can be tackled with technology, and have been done so wonderfully well. However, games, sports, extra-curricular, togetherness – may be next-gen kids will have much lower human interactions. Moreover, it’s just the school buildings that are closed. School teachers and administrators are working harder than ever before to ensure that teaching-learning is not compromised with at all” stated my friend Jimmy Lucknowwala as I engaged him in a dialogue about ground realities with reopening of schools in the country. There is no denying that school teachers, students, and families have faced unique challenges this year, including balancing of ‘work-from-home’ parents and teachers, ever-shifting schedules and hundreds and thousands of children who did not have access to reliable gadgets and/or faced hardships with technology. As we moved from extreme caution of closing everything down, most of us were well aware that school buildings would probably be last after even the last to reopen. Whilst online classes and interactions have proven to be a boon, the recent reopening of schools have proven an expected mixed bag, worldwide.
Preparations made at school levels
The school administrators and other stakeholders have continued to try to make sense of the challenging logistics of the reopening, despite the fact that there are detailed SOPs issued not only by the Government(s) but schools have worked hard to customize SOPs for their individual facilities.
Reduced class sizes, rotational school shifts, social distancing measures with sanitization tunnels and what not- wonderful and at times, many out-of-the-box solutions – by schools to ensure that the COVID-19 spread can be controlled at schools as and when the buildings re-open. In most places, kids were sectioned off into “micro-groups”, arrive at school at staggered times, eat lunch separately and have their own zones in the playground. All students are required to wash their hands every hour or so, carrying their own sanitizers and wearing masks. Desks are divided two meters apart, all education material must be cleaned twice a day and when possible, classes held in a hybrid fashion. Parents and visitors not allowed on school property.
And, we have seen a mixed bag of places where there has been good attendance after school reopening without a massive increase in positive cases, whilst there are undeniably many locations where cases have seen an upswing. The decision to send their children “back to school” wouldn’t have been easy for parents. As the online classes have been going well at most places, the reasons for sending kids back to school would’ve been a no-brainer, and perhaps rightly so. Where technology and access have proven to be a task, of course, parents have welcomed reopening.
Reopening for in-person teaching across the world
By the beginning of April 2020, 185 countries had shut down their schools because of COVID-19, affecting 89 per cent of the world’s children. Many developed countries have since reopened schools without experiencing significant outbreaks of COVID. There has been significant evidence from scientists finding showing that children are at lower risk of severity of the illness, or even death linked to COVID-19. In addition, time spent away from in-person classes, particularly for younger students, can lead to academic regression as well as reduced access to critical services, such as school meals, that could have short- and long-term effects. School staff has shown an increase in the detection of the virus, and that is something that was being anticipated as well.
School re-openings for in-person teaching have been and perhaps would be successful in locations where testing, tracing and treatment of infected people is on an upswing, so as to help flatten the curve of new cases. Unless there is a spike of cases spiralling out of control, it has been possible to reopen schools for in-person teaching with calm and intent. Let us take a quick look at what has happened in many parts of the world since the reopening of schools.
Schools in most countries have had social distancing norms in place, and many countries such as China and Thailand have insisted on bubbles for children to be in. Denmark, Israel, New Zealand, and South Korea started reopening of schools after a couple of months of lockdown. The modus operandi had been pretty much similar as described above, and school timings drastically came down. Canada differed from the province, but Toronto most successfully had schools functioning without much turmoil. Of course, the big challenge was in the USA, where the cases have been on the upswing and the President himself talked about cutting off funds of public schools that do not open up. The many States offered up options to parents of going fully “on remote” where learning would be online only, hybrid where there would be a mixed bag, or coming to school for learning. The pressures on the teachers for managing the options has been tremendous, but everyone has been trying to crack the right formula for making the best of the given situation. And there have been cases in Bolivia, Kenya, and many countries where there has been a spike in the number of cases, and the decision of reopening of schools has been rolled back. The Philippines too announced that there would be remote learning continuing till the rollout of a vaccine. Many European countries are advocating testing of students every three to four days to be sure. I strongly feel that the impact on the mental well-being of students being subject to such frequent tests is also something that has to be looked into.
The case for reopening of school buildings in India
In our country, India, I think we have done exceedingly well in ensuring that learning has continued online despite the fact that roughly 11-12% of households have had gadgets and online access. Even our teachers have upgraded almost overnight and this has now become common tales about how the pandemic brought forward the tech prowess by at least a decade. States are still undecided about when to bring students back into classrooms, particularly as the country recorded and keeps exceeding its highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases (around November pollution season in North India). The states advocated opening up for senior grades for doubt clarification and preparation of Board exams, but the attendance for in-person classrooms as of now isn’t at the highest levels. Whilst European countries reversed with reopening for smaller grades (given the youngest have more immunity against the virus), in India perhaps there is a case to aggressively advocate for continuing online learning and as we move towards herd immunity, work on examinations for equal opportunities to one and all.
There has been a massive logistics and financial challenge schools have had to endure to ensure that there is safety and satisfaction for all concerned. It has been expensive. Making social distancing circles, providing masks and shields and PPEs to staff and teachers, deep cleaning of school buildings, tripling up on cleaning supplies, safety materials, the appointment of proper sanitization chambers, medical rooms, constructing of barriers, sanitizers and hand-wash, having backup first aid and breathing equipment, RFID thermometers – the list is long and endless and has kept administrators vigilant. Many countries such as the USA, Singapore and Australia have given funding to schools to buckle up and ensure that all facilities have been available. Such funding and support would be great for schools in India, too.
Student and parent feedback
Emboldened by a persistent drop in new cases and enthusiasm for restarting the nation’s economy, many countries have advocated reopening with caveats. There has been initial anxiety and apprehension, however, as the experts talk about living with the virus, perhaps sequential and easy-reopening is the baby step required in the right direction. In countries where there is an influx of foreign students, especially for higher education, there has been student feedback that on-campus experience is more important than the content learning by itself, and many students have deferred plans accordingly as well. Students have shown tremendous love for online classes, given the flexibility and comfort and access to modern tools such as flipped learning, collaborative projects and inquiry led classes, however, social aspects do show slight challenges. Parents, of course, have transgressed now from being questioning of online classes to now true partners in the teaching-learning process. The transaction can happen only when all stakeholders are tied-in together.
“I was getting stuck at home looking at the same routine things, the same people, and my friends only online. Even though I am not taking my mask off, I am getting fresh air. I’m able to be more open and spacious, instead of being crammed up” echoed a student I recently interacted with who has opted for in-person learning and happy about school reopening.
“Of course, there is a fear that my child will encounter the virus. However, you and I are as likely to get infected any which way if we are callous. Important therefore to be careful” said mother of the student above.
Firefighting and mental well-being
Of course, this has been one of the most demanding challenges on school management: what to do once a child or staff tests positive or shows symptoms after reopening. Whilst there is no right answer, the best way forward has been to face it head-on, follow all Government advisory which would mean isolation of the detected case, deep cleaning and most importantly, transparent and quick dispersal of information across the board. For instance, after reopening, countries such as the USA and Israel have seen some start-stop and jerked off-road for the schools. However, now there are more definitive actions taken by the school management. In Germany and Sweden, where infections are comparative now lower, classes are kept running and only those who have had direct contact with the infected student and/or staff have been sent to quarantine.
Given the anxiety and uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought about, I also firmly believe that each of us would react differently to the circumstances. Being indoors and isolated has impacted students, and it is unfortunate that whatever little time schools reopened, children have shown bouts of mental stress. Natural irritations, disturbances and changes in their body.
Conclusion
It is a crazy reality that when the dust does settle, education, on the whole, will emerge stronger than it was ever before, with more access for all towards education equality thanks to technology, and frankly, lack of an alternative. As our teachers innovate with new tools, so is the society at large; this is so heartening to see that real issues are being faced, tackled and discussed without inhibition. It is not unheard of where teachers are sharing ways of implementation with other members of the family of their students. Remember, teachers had to jump into the line of fire without prior warning or training, and have faced it head-on. Innovation does not stop with synchronous or asynchronous classes and even pedagogy has seen massive improvements despite the limitations. Kudos to schools and authorities as well who have braved the situation and synergistically looked at progress instead of being bogged down by the dawn of the pandemic. Thus far, the reopening of schools for in-person schooling has been a mixed bag. Nonetheless, slowly but surely we will need to come back to physical spaces and social proximity. It will take tremendous acclimatization, but I am confident this would step in the right direction for one and all.
Although Governments and education authorities have been amazingly progressive with suggestions and guidelines, ultimately, the decision of reopening of schools will depend on how well we, the people can maintain social distancing norms. A simple rule of the thumb should be – you should not suffer because I am stupid. Therefore, the onus has to be on every individual to defeat COVID-19 and maintain caution, no matter what. There is evidence now that closure of any establishment for an extended period of time takes that much longer to get back on track. Slowly, but surely, reopening of schools for in-person learning would help. A blended model of education is here to stay, and we will have to wait and watch trends on the number of cases, with a hand on the heart that a vaccine and cure medicine comes to us as a Diwali gift.
About the author: Kanak Gupta, Director, Seth M R Jaipuria Schools
Education
Beyond the Numbers: Reading Between the Lines of UDISE+ 2024–25

The Ministry of Education’s latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024–25 report offers an important snapshot of India’s school education. The numbers reveal progress across teachers, enrolments, infrastructure, and gender representation. But as with any large-scale dataset, the fuller story emerges when these achievements are held against persistent challenges on the ground.
Key Improvements Highlighted in the Report
Teachers and Student Ratios
For the first time, India has crossed the one crore mark in the number of teachers. From 94.8 lakh in 2022–23 to over 1.01 crore in 2024–25, the increase represents a 6.7% rise within two years. The Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) too has improved sharply, now standing at 10 for the foundational stage, 13 at the preparatory level, 17 in middle school, and 21 in secondary. All of these are comfortably better than NEP 2020’s recommendation of 30:1, suggesting children now have more access to individual attention.
Dropouts and Retention
Dropout rates have fallen across the board. At the preparatory stage, they are down to 2.3%; in middle school to 3.5%; and in secondary to 8.2%. Retention, meanwhile, has climbed, with 92.4% of students staying on through the preparatory stage, 82.8% at middle, and 47.2% at secondary—supported by the increase in schools offering higher grades.
Transition and Enrolment
More children are continuing their education without breaks. Transition from foundational to preparatory is up to 98.6%, and from middle to secondary to 86.6%. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has also risen, with secondary education seeing an uptick from 66.5% to 68.5%.
Infrastructure Growth
Infrastructure remains a bright spot. Over 93% of schools now have electricity, 99% provide safe drinking water, and 97% are equipped with girls’ toilets. Computer access has grown to 64.7%, internet access to 63.5%, and more than half of schools now have ramps and handrails, improving accessibility.
Gender Representation
Representation of women in teaching has crossed 54%, and girls’ enrolment has edged up to 48.3%, showing slow but steady progress towards gender parity.
Where the Numbers Need Context
While the report reflects genuine gains, the full picture requires a closer look at what these numbers mean in practice.
Teachers: Quantity vs Quality
Crossing the one-crore milestone is historic. Yet reports continue to highlight shortages in subject specialists and concerns about teacher training. A strong student-teacher ratio is valuable only if classrooms are led by well-prepared, motivated educators.
Dropouts: Regional Gaps Persist
The steady fall in dropout rates is promising, but averages mask uneven realities. States like Bihar still struggle with alarming dropout figures, particularly among girls and marginalised communities. National averages hide state-level realities.
Access Without Schools
It is encouraging to see single-teacher and zero-enrolment schools on the decline. However, the deeper problem isn’t just these schools but the absence of schools altogether in thousands of villages. Maharashtra alone has over 8,000 villages without schools. That’s not a statistic you’ll find in the UDISE+ summary, but it matters when we talk about access.
Digital Infrastructure: From Presence to Practice
Computer and internet access are on the rise, yet, other surveys suggest that many of these facilities remain underused, serving as placeholders for inspections rather than as tools for learning. Less than a quarter of India’s 1.47 million schools have smart classrooms. Digital literacy among students and teachers is patchy at best. So while infrastructure is expanding, its integration into actual pedagogy lags far behind.
Inclusion: Beyond Ramps
Ramps and handrails are a welcome start, but inclusion for children with disabilities requires much more. How many schools have accessible toilets, special educators, or learning aids for children with disabilities? And the bigger question: how many children with disabilities are actually enrolled and attending school regularly? Current data rarely tells us this.
Gender: Representation Without Leadership
Girls’ enrolment is up slightly to 48.3%. Female teachers now account for 54.2% of the workforce. Encouraging signs, yes. But leadership remains a male stronghold. Across higher education, only about 9.5% of institutions in India are led by women. At the school level too, women remain underrepresented in principal and leadership roles. Representation in classrooms is improving; representation in decision-making is not.
Reading the Report Holistically
The UDISE+ 2024–25 findings point to a system that is steadily improving access, retention, and infrastructure. But progress cannot be measured in isolation. Numbers must be matched with quality, access must be inclusive, and representation must extend to leadership. A fuller picture of Indian education comes not from rose-tinted fragments but from an honest balance of achievements and unfinished work.
Edutainment
Weaving Social-Emotional Learning into the Curriculum

When we think of school learning, the first things that come to mind are math equations, science experiments, history timelines, and grammar rules. But education isn’t only about academic skills—it’s also about preparing students for life. This is where Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) steps in, transforming classrooms into spaces that nurture not just minds, but hearts.
What is Social-Emotional Learning?
Social-Emotional Learning is the process through which students acquire and apply skills to:
- Understand and manage emotions
- Build healthy relationships
- Show empathy for others
- Make responsible decisions
- Set and achieve positive goals
In simpler terms, SEL is about helping students become self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and socially responsible.
Why Should SEL Be Part of the Curriculum?
For decades, education focused on the “3 Rs” – reading, writing, and arithmetic. Today, we know that EQ (Emotional Quotient) can be just as important as IQ. Studies show that integrating SEL into the curriculum leads to:
- Improved academic performance
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Fewer behavioural issues
- Stronger peer relationships
- Better conflict-resolution skills
A student who learns how to manage frustration or work well in a team is more likely to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
How SEL Fits into Different Subjects
- Language and Literature – Discussing characters’ feelings in a story builds empathy and perspective-taking.
- Science – Group experiments encourage collaboration and respectful communication.
- Mathematics – Problem-solving in pairs or teams fosters patience and perseverance.
- Social Studies – Exploring diverse cultures promotes acceptance and respect.
Practical Ways to Embed SEL into Curriculum
- Morning check-ins: A quick emotional “temperature check” helps teachers understand students’ moods.
- Role-play activities: Encourage students to act out scenarios that require empathy or problem-solving.
- Collaborative projects: Promote teamwork, negotiation, and leadership skills.
- Mindfulness breaks: Simple breathing exercises can improve focus and emotional balance.
When SEL is woven into lesson plans, we move from an education system that simply imparts knowledge to one that shapes compassionate, resilient, and adaptable individuals. In a world that is constantly changing, these life skills are not optional—they are essential.
Final Sum-Up
Social-Emotional Learning doesn’t replace academic learning; it enriches it. By combining books with empathy, logic with kindness, and grades with grit, we can prepare students not just for exams, but for life.
This article is authored by-

Ranjith P C, Head- Curriculum Excellence, TVS Education
Education
Education with Purpose: Shaping Responsible Learners for a Better Tomorrow

Education is the wellspring of civilization. It begets arts, culture, sciences, and polity to create a society oriented towards discovery and development. Through the ages, education has evolved to meet the needs of the times, and presently, it has reached an inflection point. The inexorable advancement of technology, abundance of information, pressing societal challenges and climate crisis have compelled educators to re-imagine education for the 21st century.
With the rapid prevalence of generative artificial intelligence, the question rightly being asked is: “What should we teach children when almost all answers can be readily had from AI?” The education of tomorrow would reward critical thinking over knowledge. That is what our focus and onus as educators should be. Children, being the digital natives, are more inclined to leverage the full potential of technology. It is up to us to help them realize and understand that AI should augment – not replace – HI (human intelligence). To think critically, to understand, to create and innovate should always be the preserve of humans. The ‘human-first, tech forward’ approach should become the cornerstone of education, going ahead.
An equal focus has to be on building skills, values and attitudes to address the most pressing problems of the world today. The World Economic Forum’s Education 4.0 framework underscores the importance of nurturing global citizenship, environmental stewardship, growth mindset, adaptability, civic responsibility, socio-emotional awareness, empathy, and kindness. The challenge is to find ways to model these into learners’ personality, traits and behaviours.
Re-designing curricula, taking learning beyond classrooms, and reforming assessments could be the answer. Marks and grades can only be one of the benchmarks of learning. Time has come for us to consider skill-based and value-based assessments to reflect a learner’s competence and character. Here, the National Education Policy 2020 – with its progressive vision – can be the guiding compass to steer us towards a more holistic and value-driven paradigm of learning. Institutions should also harness technology to create personalized learning pathways to meet the unique needs of each student.
None of this transformation would be possible without more empowered and enlightened teachers. Progressive institutions are already taking a lead in continuous professional development of their teachers and staff. On their part, teachers will have to be open to unlearn and relearn, upskill and reskill to stay abreast of the new pedagogies and technology. They should be adept in delivering personalized learning using data-driven insights and adapt to the new role of facilitators in an ecosystem where student agency is growing increasingly assertive. Schools must actively engage with parents and students to help them understand the need to look beyond grades. Parents must be informed of the changing jobs market and the importance of building durable skills.
Reforms and initiatives are also required at the policy level to attract private capital into an education landscape where private schools are outnumbered by government schools but cater to about half of the total 24.8 crore school-going student population. The potential of public-private partnerships should also be explored to elevate the quality of education in government schools. Digital infrastructure across the nation has to be strengthened to make learning accessible to the last child in the remotest of places. Creation and dissemination of multi-lingual content will enhance inclusivity of learning in the new Bharat.
Today, the education fraternity, governments, and parents need to collaborate to facilitate this transition into Education 4.0. We need to re-envision education as a human development endeavor to create a sustainable future wherein prosperity goes hand-in-hand with people and the planet. Right intentions need to be followed with earnest action. The future will be India’s to claim.
This article is authored by-

Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, Seth Anandram Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions
Education
Empathy as a 21st-Century Competency: Developing Emotional Intelligence among Students

Within the conversation of future-ready education, empathy has moved from being characterized as a “soft” individual characteristic to being identified as an essential social and cognitive ability. Frameworks such as the OECD Learning Compass 2030, UNESCO’s Global Citizenship Education, and the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report put empathy at the forefront of skills required to succeed in an uncertain, interdependent world.
From Emotion to Competence
Empathy is confused with sympathy, yet they are essentially different. Empathy is an active, cognitive, and affective process, the capacity to grasp another’s emotional situation, comprehend it in context, and react creatively. Neuroscientific research, for example, by Decety and Jackson (2004), illustrates that empathy engages both the limbic system, which controls emotional resonance, and the prefrontal cortex, which controls perspective-taking and rational reaction. Briefly put, empathy does not just mean “feeling with someone”, it means thinking with feeling, where intellect and emotion unite to shape behaviour and decision-making.
Early Childhood (Ages 3–6) – Seeds of Empathy
At the age of three to six years, children in early childhood start showing the beginning signs of empathy by what is termed as “emotional contagion” by psychologists. They tend to cry when others cry or smile when others smile due to the observed emotional state. By the time they are four or five years old, according to research conducted by Zahn-Waxler et al. (1992), children start showing other-oriented concern like sharing, comforting, or embracing a fellow child who looks distressed. Empathy at this age is still primarily affect-based; children sympathize with others but possess little ability to grasp intricate frames of mind. Teachers can cultivate these early roots of empathy through narrative, role-playing, and guided social-emotional education that offer the vocabulary and structure to make sense of emotions.
Middle Childhood (Ages 7–12) – Perspective-Taking Develops
By middle childhood, around ages seven to twelve, empathy is increasingly cognitively complex. They start to understand that people might think and feel differently from themselves, an ability outlined in Selman’s stages of perspective-taking. Peer relationships are increasingly important at this stage, and children increasingly become sensitive to fairness, belonging, and group membership. According to research by Eisenberg et al. (2010), this is a critical window for the instruction of moral reasoning in addition to empathy. Cooperative learning activities, peer mediation programs, and community service offer children meaningful opportunities for empathy extension from intimate friendships to include strangers and even members of out-groups.
Adolescence (Ages 13–18) – Abstract and Global Empathy
An important stage in the development of empathy is adolescence, which lasts from the ages of thirteen to eighteen. Adolescents gain the ability to relate to abstract ideas such as global emergencies, injustice, and inequality. According to Blakemore’s (2018) neuroimaging research, adolescent brain regions involved in identity formation and social cognition are more active. However, hormonal changes and heightened self-awareness are also hallmarks of adolescence, which makes young people more reflective. Schools can assist in this area by offering intentional opportunities for teenagers to develop empathy, such as discussion forums that foster critical thinking, service-learning initiatives that are linked to current events, and cross-cultural interactions that extend their horizons. Adolescents can use these activities to channel their growing empathy into constructive civic engagement.
Young Adulthood (18+) – Empathy as Leadership Skill
Empathy matures during late adolescence and young adulthood as a skill that is intricately linked with emotional control, leadership, and ethical choice. Now, it transcends interpersonal interaction to become the hallmark of effective leadership. More employers are realizing this; a 2022 LinkedIn survey indicated that 78 percent of employers view emotional intelligence as equally or even more important than technical skills. Universities and workplaces increasingly require such competencies, and schools can prepare young adults through leadership programs, mentorship positions, and reflective practices that instil empathy in civic and professional life.
Beyond Awareness to Application
While awareness of empathy is valuable, its real utility comes from practice. Schools need to inculcate empathy not only in coursework but in lived experience. Narrative immersion in literature, film, and even virtual reality allows students to step into other people’s shoes. Structured ethical discussions in dialogic classrooms offer the space for respectful disagreement and deeper understanding. Cross-age mentorship, where older students mentor younger ones, develops a sense of responsibility while strengthening bonds across age. Service-learning, when paired with structured reflection, develops empathy into action. Even cutting-edge tools that offer emotional analytics while working in a team can assist students in self-evaluating and managing their emotions, turning empathy into a mindful and deliberate process instead of an automatic reaction.
The 21st-Century Payoff
The dividend of developing empathy in education is significant. In a world of artificial intelligence, empathy is one differentiator that makes us uniquely human. The World Economic Forum (2025) identifies emotional intelligence, empathy, and collaboration as among the future workforce’s top ten skills. Students who can read emotional team dynamics, negotiate across cultures, and build authentic relationships are not just more hireable but indeed invaluable in a fast-paced professional landscape.
Empathy is not a mushy virtue but a developmental skill that develops systematically throughout childhood and adolescence. Schools that deliberately foster it are not just creating smarter students; they are raising wiser, kinder citizens who can lead with compassion and resilience. Empathy is a moral and practical necessity for 21st-century education, the bridge that unites emotional intelligence and the needs of an interconnected world.
(This article is authored by Dr. Silpi Sahoo, Chairperson, SAI International Education Group)
Education
Math Meets Machine: How AI Is Revolutionising Classroom Learning

In a world where algorithms power everything from our social media feeds to self-driving cars, it’s no surprise that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming one of the oldest pillars of education—math learning in the classroom. Once confined to textbooks and chalkboards, math instruction is now getting a high-tech upgrade, ushering in a new era of personalised, engaging, and data-driven learning.
Cracking the Code: Why Math Needs a Makeover?
Let’s face the fact that many students see math as abstract, intimidating, or just plain boring. Traditional classroom approaches often take a one-size-fits-all route, leaving behind both the struggling learner and the gifted problem-solver. This is where AI steps in, not to replace the teacher, but to empower them with tools that adapt to each student’s pace, gaps, and style.
Enter AI: The Digital Math Mentor
Imagine a classroom where a student struggling with fractions gets instant, visual explanations tailored to their exact misunderstanding. At the same time, another who excels in geometry is offered advanced challenges to stretch their thinking. AI platforms are doing just that. They use real-time data to analyse student responses, detect patterns of error, and provide feedback that feels like one-on-one tutoring.
Far from replacing educators, AI acts as a powerful teaching assistant. Teachers can use AI dashboards to spot who needs extra help, where the class is lagging, or what concepts need reteaching without spending hours on manual assessments. This frees up more time for creativity, collaboration, and real-life math applications that bring numbers to life.
AI also allows classrooms to become more inclusive and equitable. Language barriers? AI can offer multilingual support. Visual learners? Dynamic simulations and interactive tools adapt seamlessly. Students with special needs? Personalized pacing ensures no one falls through the cracks.
What’s Next? The Future of Math + AI
As AI grows more sophisticated, so does its potential in math classrooms. Think AI-generated practice problems based on local news, gamified learning paths that turn algebra into an adventure, or virtual tutors available 24/7 for homework help.
But with great power comes great responsibility. Educators, parents, and developers must ensure that AI tools remain ethical, transparent, and supportive, not controlling or biased.
Math education is no longer just about memorising formulas or solving problems on paper. In the AI-powered classroom, it’s about curiosity, connection, and confidence. With the right blend of technology and teaching, we’re not just raising better mathematicians but combining critical thinking with the subject for a world powered by data and driven by ideas.
This article is authored by-

Ranjith P C, Head Curriculum Excellence, TVS Education
Education
Nirvaan Birla on Why Social Media Needs a Rethink in Today’s Classrooms

What happens when self-worth becomes a scrolling statistic? When confidence is measured in likes, validation is sought in comments, and a missed post feels like a missed opportunity, social media quietly becomes more than a platform; it becomes a mirror that distorts.
For the younger generation, the digital world isn’t an escape. It’s their reality. What once was a space for fun and connection now silently dictates their self-image, decisions, and even mental health. A carefully crafted caption, the right filter, or a viral reel can spark joy, but it can also fuel anxiety, insecurity, and constant comparison.
As engaging as social media is, it comes with an invisible cost. The pressure to be constantly available, consistently appealing, and endlessly relevant can take a toll. Many teenagers find themselves trapped in a loop of approval-seeking, often mistaking online popularity for personal worth.
Online peer pressure has evolved from being subtle to strategic. Likes are currency, stories are reputation, and every post is performance. Combine that with cyberbullying, misinformation, and the relentless pace of content, and you’ve got a digital space that’s as overwhelming as it is addictive.
Yet, knowing how to use social platforms doesn’t mean knowing how to handle them. Digital literacy has surged, but digital emotional intelligence still needs nurturing.
Recognising the urgency of this shift, Nirvaan Birla, Founder of Birla Open Minds, shared, “We see it every day. The impact social media is having on the younger generation’s mental and emotional wellbeing is significant. That is why at Birla Open Minds, we have initiated sessions like ‘Likes vs. Life’ across our schools. These sessions are designed to help learners reflect on their relationship with social media, how it affects their confidence, their focus, and their sense of self. Our larger vision is to shape not just academically strong individuals but also emotionally resilient ones who can navigate the digital world with awareness and responsibility.”
The idea isn’t to villainize social media. It’s to humanize its users. What the younger generation needs most isn’t just digital access, but digital awareness. The ability to pause. To question. To ask: Is this who I really am, or just who I’m trying to be online. Because beyond the reels, hashtags, and likes lies something far more important: life. And that should never be lived for an algorithm.
Education
Teaching Privilege: Why It Belongs in Every Classroom

Here’s the thing about privilege: most of us don’t even realise how it shapes our choices, our comfort zones and the opportunities we chase
I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, but it hit me harder during a recent conversation with a college student. One of the factors they had in mind while choosing their higher education institution was that most of the students there came from similar economic backgrounds. They felt uneasy at the thought of being in a space where others might be less privileged than them. And just like that, it became clear: even the discomfort of being around inequality is, in itself, a kind of privilege.
Here’s the thing: privilege wears many faces. Money, yes. But also caste. Gender. Language. Skin tone. Disability. Geography. And then there’s what Gen Z calls “pretty privilege”—the unspoken perks of fitting society’s standards of attractiveness. These aren’t abstract ideas. They play out every day—in who gets picked, who gets heard, who gets help without asking.
This isn’t about guilt. Guilt gets us nowhere. Awareness, though? That’s powerful. Students should be taught to recognise the invisible lifts they get. It’s not just that some kids have better shoes—it’s that they’ve never had to worry about having shoes. It’s not just about who studies in English-medium schools—it’s about who gets praised for speaking English at all.
Privilege doesn’t cancel out hard work. It explains the head start. And when students understand that, they become better humans. They stop seeing success as a solo act and start acknowledging the small privileges they enjoy. These can be supportive families, access to tutors, clean water, a safe route to school. Things so normal for some, they fade into the background. Afterall, acknowledgment is the first step to building empathy.
So where do schools come in? Right at the heart of it. Not with token assemblies or once-a-year poster competitions, but with consistent conversations. Through stories, books, theatre, debates—whatever gets them to look up from their own experience and into someone else’s. Not to feel bad, but to build perspective. And maybe, just maybe, to use their privilege to lift someone else.
This isn’t about shaming anyone or turning life into a comparison game. It’s about empathy and responsibility. When students know they benefit from privilege, they can harness it to help others. They can mentor younger kids, fundraise for resources, or simply speak up when they see inequality in the classroom.
This isn’t a curriculum change. It’s a mindset shift. It’s the difference between raising achievers and raising citizens. If we teach kids to see both their own comfort and the struggles of others, we’ll nurture a generation that doesn’t just accept their advantages but shares them too.
If we want an education system that prepares students for the real world, then recognising privilege isn’t a side-topic. It’s foundational.
(This article is authored by Dhruv Chhabra, Lead-Content and Design at ScooNews and reflects the author’s personal beliefs and lived observations as an education journalist and storyteller. It is written with the hope that classrooms can become kinder, more aware spaces.)
Education
India Plans Unified Higher Education Regulator: What the HECI Bill Means

India is on the verge of a major overhaul in how it governs higher education, with the government aiming to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with the proposed Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). The move, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, seeks to create a more efficient, autonomous, and accountable regulatory system.
Why Replace UGC, AICTE & NCTE?
The current structure—with multiple agencies overseeing different sectors—has long faced criticism for being fragmented and bureaucratic. Overlaps in jurisdiction, slow decision-making, and limited autonomy for institutions have prompted calls for reform. Committees like the Yash Pal and National Knowledge Commission have recommended a unified regulator to reduce red tape and improve coordination.
What HECI Will Look Like
According to the draft and Lok Sabha updates by Education Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar, HECI will have four independent verticals:
-
Regulation (NHERC) – compliance and governance
-
Accreditation (NAC) – quality assurance
-
Grants (HEGC) – performance-based funding
-
Academic Standards (GEC) – curriculum and learning outcomes
This “light but tight” approach aims to foster innovation and autonomy while maintaining integrity and transparency.
Potential Benefits
-
Streamlined oversight: Instead of navigating multiple authorities, institutions will liaise with one regulator.
-
Better resource allocation: Integrated funding vertical offers performance incentives, echoing models in the UK and Australia.
-
Unified standards: Accreditation and curriculum will be uniform, reducing interstate disparities.
-
Global alignment: Can enhance India’s appeal with international quality frameworks.
Risks & Concerns
-
Centralisation: Experts warn that vesting extensive power in one body may over-centralise control, risking academic freedom.
-
Loss of specialised oversight: Domain experts from UGC, AICTE, and NCTE may be diluted.
-
Bureaucratic inertia: Transition could bring its own delays and resistance from existing bodies.
-
Compliance complexity: Institutions may face confusion adapting to new norms and vertical structures.
Global Inspiration & Way Forward
Many countries offer models worth emulating: the UK’s Office for Students (OfS), Australia’s TEQSA, and the US’s accreditation agencies show that one-regulator systems can work—if they strike a balance between oversight and autonomy. The NEP framework supports this, but success hinges on a smooth transition, capacity building, and safeguarding academic freedom.
In short, HECI is more than an institutional reshuffle. It has the potential to redefine Indian higher education—if implemented thoughtfully. The challenge now lies in building consensus, streamlining regulatory roles, and ensuring this new body empowers institutions, not constrains them.
This news has been sourced from various media outlets, with parts of it written and contextualised by the ScooNews editorial team.
Education
Student Suicides Account for 7.6% of All Cases in India: What the Govt Is Doing Next

Education
When AI Reaches the Top of Bloom’s—and Our Students Are Left Behind

We often talk about how AI is transforming education, but are we talking enough about what it’s quietly taking away?
CREATIVITY
As Sir Ken Robinson often reminded us,“Creativity is as important as literacy.”
And yet, in a system so focused on marks, rubrics, and outcomes,creativity is often the first thing we sacrifice.
Bloom’s Taxonomy places Creating right at the top,but in many classrooms today, it feels like AI has reached that level faster than our students have.While children are still figuring out sentence structure and grammar, AI is already generating poems, paintings, and polished presentations with a single click.
Which brings us to a deeply uncomfortable question:
What happens when AI starts to “create”?
And more importantly—what happens when our students stop?
Today’s AI isn’t truly creative.It mimics. It reuses. It draws from patterns and reproduces what’s already been done.And if we don’t pause now to protect what’s uniquely human,we risk raising a generation of students who know how to use tools,but don’t know how to think.
Everything’s Starting to Look the Same
I’ve seen it. You’ve probably seen it too.
Creative writing tasks that sound strangely uniform.Artwork that feels formulaic.Presentations that are polished, yes, but empty.AI has democratised access to intelligence,but in doing so, it has started to flatten creativity.We’re now at a point where students are outsourcing not just answers,but imagination.
But true creativity cannot be prompted.It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s born out of thinking, feeling, failing, and trying again. It lives in how we interpret the world. In how we care. In how we connect.
How Can We Bring Creativity Back?
We need to bring back the building blocks of creativity.
READ
Let students read more deeply,not just skim or summarise.Let them feel what’s in the pages, get lost in ideas, debate their favourite character in a book or movie, and form their own emotional connections.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Let’s re-focus on learning through doing,projects, fieldwork, play, nature, making mistakes, working with hands, collaborating, and reflecting.It’s in these non-linear, real-world experiences that creativity quietly blooms.
FINDING THE PURPOSE
We need to pause and ask: What is this child truly passionate about?
It could be animals, gardening, football, art—anything that sparks joy and curiosity.
Once we discover that passion, we can connect learning to it.
Let’s not just ask what they’re reading, but why they’re reading it.
What inspires them? How can that interest help them solve real-world problems?
That’s when learning becomes meaningful,and creativity starts to flow with purpose.
Because by the time they grow up,the world won’t just need people who can use AI – It will need people who can imagine what AI cannot.
-
Education3 months ago
OpenAI Academy Launches in India to Democratise AI Education for Students, Teachers, and Startups
-
Education2 months ago
NCERT Launches New Class 5 & 8 Textbooks, Makes Art Education Mandatory
-
Education2 months ago
CBSE To Conduct Board Exams Twice for Class 10 from 2026
-
Education2 months ago
No More Backbenchers: How a Simple Seating Shift Is Reimagining Learning
-
Education2 months ago
Government Doubles Down on Coaching Centres: New Panel Signals Stronger Regulation Ahead
-
Education3 months ago
PadhAI Conclave Highlights Urgent Role of Artificial Intelligence in Indian Education
-
Education2 months ago
The Man Who Called His Students Gods: Dwijendranath Ghosh
-
Education1 month ago
In Every Smile, a Victory – Sandhya Ukkalkar’s Journey with Jai Vakeel’s Autism Centre
-
Education3 months ago
UNESCO Flags Foundational Learning Crisis & Leadership Gaps in India’s Education System
-
Education1 month ago
Indian Army to Sponsor Education of 10-Year-Old Who Aided Troops During Operation Sindoor