Knowledge
Go nowhere, and be transported anywhere! Experience the world from your classroom
With Augmented Reality, users are able to interact with virtual contents in the real world, and are able to distinguish between the two. Go nowhere, and be transported anywhere. What a wonderful proposition to work with.

The world is on a mission to keep up with the pace of development. The human race has always been and will continue to be on the look-out for something bigger and better. One such area that has seen a meteoric rise is technology. Things that we only imagined till about a decade ago are now a reality including Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), but what is it that we mean by these?
VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)
Virtual Reality is the creation of a virtual world in which users can interact with the virtual surroundings in real time. It is designed in such a way that a user cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is not. Virtual Reality is usually achieved by wearing a VR helmet or goggles similar to the Oculus Rift.
AUGUMENTED REALITY (AR)
The merging of virtual reality with real life is Augmented Reality. Developers can create a character or an image within an application that will blend in with the real world. In the case of AR, people are able to interact and distinguish between virtual contents and the real world. Augmented Reality devices usually use some sort of geo location, such as GPS data of a user’s device. It super imposes graphics, audio and other sensory enhancements over a real world environment in real time. This helps the user’s immediate surroundings to be seamlessly integrated in the app in a way that makes it more personal.
3 main categories of Augmented Reality Tools:
Augmented Reality 3D Viewers uses life size 3D models in your environment with or without the use of trackers. Trackers are simple devices that can be attached to the 3D models of the AR.
Augmented Reality Browsers uses your camera display with contextual information. For example, you can point your smartphone at a building and it will display the history and its estimated value.
Augmented Reality Games utilizes the actual surroundings the user is in and creates an immersive gaming experience. The biggest game to-date that uses augmented reality is none other than Pokémon Go. A game where the player needs to move about his surroundings to find a Pokémon.
Augmented Reality devices like the smart phone and tablets act like a magic mirror where the viewer can see holograms and can manipulate 3D models. Hundreds of AR apps are available on iPhone, iPad and Android. PC’s and connected TV Players can also use AR by using a webcam. The contents are then relayed to the screen. Like the PlayStation Move and the Xbox Kinect. Head mounted displays, glasses and lenses are also used to make AR more lifelike by being an active part of the entire user’s field of view. For example we have seen how Ironman interacts with Jarvis, which is uber cool.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Education
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Emraan Kureshi Founder & MD ,Active Media Innovations says “The Planet is on the evolution stage, technology is evolving with new trends and user experiences. The education industry is evolving with engaging new trends for students Black boards -have become interactive white boards Work books have become applications. Benches have transformed to digital desks (touch screens tables) Classroom teaching changed to Virtual teaching |
Since the evolution of digital media in the education systems, we have seen a great trend changing now to AR & VR. When a VR head gear is worn, the immersion happens in the digital world – most importantly it controls the sensory parts of the human body (eyes and ears) that triggers the communication to the mind. The mind is the most receptive when a FOCUSED communication is playing directly one inch away from your eyes. Internationally in European & American countries VR coaching has started, where a student need not come to a classroom if he/she missed class, the class can be directly streamed on a VR app. With the VR gear the immersion directly happens through recorded or streamed content.
A very visual and interactive technology ‘Augmented Reality’ has also emerged, where the content of text books transforms to AR content just by placing a TAB on it. The inbuilt AR marker in the text books make the communication more informative and easy to understand with its 3D effects and animations.
The trend of futuristic education is TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION WITH EDUCATION…soon in India we will see a transformation in the education system where AR will be used and VR will be integrated to make education more interesting, informative and interactive.”
As we know digital interaction has been around for a while now, through the use of computers and the internet. But now the face of this digital interaction is changing. VR and AR are now being implemented into primary and secondary education.
Let’s say for example, for teaching students about the Egyptian temples, these monuments can be recreated in a 3D environment where the students can be surrounded by this environment without having to leave the classroom. How about diving into the ocean and observing the flora and fauna found under the sea or watch a heart beating right in the middle of your classroom? That’s the kind of immersive and interactive education AR and VR can offer in the world of education. This is no more science fiction but can be entirely done with the appropriate devices.
VR, though, initially developed for the gaming industry, today has a huge potential in education and training
How about diving into the ocean and getting a lesson about the flora and fauna found under the sea or watch a heart beating right in the middle of your classroom?
InMediaStudio has created the Immersive Worlds Project which promotes the method of immersive learning. The teacher activates scenarios on a tablet and through virtual reality glasses a student can immerse themselves in a sea bed environment to learn about marine biology. There are no textbooks used as the learning comes from being taken through the ocean environment. There is no better way than actually being surrounded in the environment you’re learning about. The teacher can also monitor what a student is seeing as it appears on the tablet. This ensures that the student takes away immense learning and the right questions can be asked and mistakes can be corrected.
Meanwhile, Alchemy VR is creating an immersive educational experience in the form of a narrative on various topics where the user will get to see and experience myriad things. One such example is exploring the Great Barrier Reef. What makes Alchemy VR standout in this space is their partnerships which contribute to the high level of content they produce. Alchemy VR has partnered with Samsung, Google Expeditions, Sony, HTC, the Natural History Museum in London, and the Australian Museum in Sydney. They have made several projects for Google Expeditions which will soon release experiences on pyramids and the human body.
Nearpod is an organization that merges VR and AR technology with traditional lessons in a classroom for an immersive technology driven approach to learning. It utilizes 360 degree photos and videos in lesson plans. There are also options where students answer questions by typing into their laptop or tablet. Nearpod VR is giving us an idea of what the future of classrooms will look like.
Curiscope is a start-up company focusing on VR in education , they have developed a Virtual Tee which is already turning heads. It works with one person wearing the t-shirt while another person with a smartphone launching the app and helps in learning about the human body in a remarkable way. This is a unique way to utilize AR in education and it is surely a sign of good things to come from Curiscope.
More and more teachers, researchers and developers are contributing their ideas and inventions to create more interactive learning environments, resulting in some of the most creative, engaging experiences imaginable. Some examples of Augmented Reality used to enhance education are:
Augmented Reality Development Lab seeks to design projects that entertain as well as educate and are affiliated to companies such as Google, Microsoft and Logitech. Their goal is for classrooms to be able to purchase their user kits that come at different price levels and involves them in creating interactive, three dimensional objects for educational purposes.
New Horizon helps some Japanese students and adults in learning and reviewing English lessons through first generation of augmented reality textbooks, courtesy, the publisher Tokyo Shoseki, for the New Horizon class. It is an app that uses the camera of the smartphone to present animated character conversations when aligned with certain sections of pages.
Mentira in Albuquerque fuses fact and fiction, fantasy characters and real people to learn Spanish in the first AR language learning game. It intentionally mimics the structure of a historical murder mystery novel which allows for deeper more effective engagement with native speakers than many classroom lessons.
Sky Map and Star Walk is available on mobile devices. It seems deceptively simple but packs a major punch of education via an AR approach. It requires the device to be pointed to the sky and will name the visible stars, planets and constellations and will also pop up additional astronomical information.
HELPING KIDS LEARN DIFFERENTLY
“The future of education needs Greater Level of Engagement – Exploratory discovery, experience-based, fun, awakens curiosity for learning. It helps one to remember longer, decide better and learn faster.” Says Sridhar Sunkad, MD EON Reality Pte Ltd. | ![]() |
Kids are some of the earliest adopters of technology. They are the ones who are into cool gadgets and apps. Developers are now looking to find the best possible ways to combine technology with traditional toys. There are several companies that are presently working on finding the perfect marriage between these two. With kids involved in technology there is a huge market for AR and VR, be it in play or education.
SwapBots is an organization that fuses traditional play with technology. A perfect example of a union between a traditional toy and AR technology is SwapBots, which are toys that kids can collect, customize, and battle with other swapbots using their smartphones. The other major advantage of this product is that it’s not too heavy on the pockets of parents which is an important factor for companies to consider while targeting kids.
Developers are now looking to find the best possible ways to combine technology with traditional toys.
Osmo is a projector which gets mounted at the top of an iPad and placed in a base so its standing upright and can see what is in front of it. Once you have this set up there are several things that you can do including games that involve shapes, basic coding, words, numbers, drawing and more. One such example of these games is called Newton, where balls fall from the top of the screen and the kids have to direct it into targets. It is accomplished by drawing various shapes to direct the balls into the targets. Osmo is a creative way to engage kids in educational play while combining technology.
These are just a few examples. There are numerous other companies which have come out with different apps and games that are dedicated to various fields.
Industries that are embracing AR and VR
Education: Google announced the release of Expeditions, a virtual reality platform built for classrooms.
Healthcare: Snow World, a VR experience helps burn victim’s deal with rehabilitation and wound care by distracting them with an immersive, snowy environment featuring snowball throwing penguins.
Journalism: In late 2015, the New York Times, Outside Magazine and other publications embraced 360- Degree Videos to tell journalistic stories.
Movie Industry: Major motion pictures like Star Wars, Jurassic World, Insurgent, The Avengers: Age of Ultron and others have released VR experiences to generate interest, excitement and a strong brand association.
Automotive: Ford Motor Co. uses virtual reality to design cars before making an actual physical prototype. In Ford’s Immersion Lab, designers can use an Oculus Rift to walk around the car and even sit inside the vehicle to get an early idea of the customer experience.
Retail: Augmented Reality app MODIFACE offers what it calls a Mirror. Users can look into a tablet and use to change the colour of their eyes and make-up. MODIFACE also has other apps that let you try different hairstyles, hair colour, nail colour or wedding dresses. The app is a dream come true for women who can now make informed choices before buying a product.
A world of career opportunities is opening up as the industry continues to expand. Potential positions for job seekers might include UX/UI Designers, Unity Developers, 3D Modellers, Animators, Project Managers and Videographers. People who are interested in a career in this field need to be up to date on the trends- following social media conversations, attending webinars and conferences and by participating in online communities.
Ford Motor Co. uses virtual reality to design cars before it makes a physical prototype. In Ford’s Immersion Lab, Designers can use an Oculus Rift to walk around the car and even sit inside the vehicle to get an early idea of the customer experience.
Mark Zuckerberg, the man who spent $2 billion of Facebook's money on Luckey's VR Company Oculus, is enamoured. "We're working on VR because I think it's the next major computing and communication platform after phones," he said, "we'll have the power to share our full sensory and emotional experience with people whenever we'd like."
VR entered the market for consumers in 2013 with the launch of the Oculus Rift Development Kit. The year 2016 brought consumers a new range of VR devices such as HTC Vive and Sony PlayStation VR. The industry is estimated to sell 500 million VR headsets in less than 10 years and has a very promising future ahead. Going by the VR market and the demand for it, it is expected to grow by the billions by the year 2020 reaching an estimated worth of $30 billion . Combined, both AR and VR have the potential to reap a market revenue of $150 billion.
Virtual Reality vs. Augmented Reality
Though VR is always going to enclose your eyes and ears with lenses, displays and headphones , AR will be neatly tucked into the sides of your eyewear. AR glasses will cause etiquette problems as they 'disappear' whereas VR will go the other way with us very clearly 'plugging in' to a virtual world for a session. With pass-through cameras there could even be some kind of hybrid wearable that offers both. AR specs are lighter, more comfortable and are more likely to be wireless than the VR headsets.
As for price, it's all a bit of a muddle. Oculus Rift is $599, HTC Vive is $200 or more (but includes controllers), PS VR will be $399, Google Glass was $1,500 the HoloLensdev kit is a whopping $3,000. But you can also pick up mobile VR headsets for less than $10.
Both AR and VR are said to be the future of training medical students as they are poised to replace textbooks. Microsoft has partnered with universities in the US and released a video to show how AR can teach anatomy. And in museums and education. – What is this?
Samsung is trialling both VR and AR in projects such as First Life at the Natural History Museum and Parthenon sculptures and Bronze Age exhibitions at the British Museum. Samsung sees both AR and VR as emerging technologyies – not competing options but as different tools available for use depending on the subject matter and size of the group.
Apple CEO Tim Cook seems to be a much bigger fan of augmented reality than virtual reality. "My own view is that augmented reality is the larger of the two, probably by far, because this gives the capability for both of us to sit and be very present talking to each other, but also have other things visually for both of us to see," Cook said. "Maybe it's something we're talking about, maybe it's someone else here that is not here, present, but could be made to appear to be present with us. So there's a lot of really cool things there."
The AR usage in industry is offering huge benefits by way of heads up display that keeps hands free and handy information in the users line of sight including NASA engineers and astronauts, construction and factory workers and airline customer service staff.
We've also recently seen Google Glass pivot with a quiet comeback with plans to distribute the smart specs to companies and enterprises depending on their specific needs. That's key because often wearable’s most useful asset is their ability to be extremely specific to a person, place or situation in terms of design, size, safety and content.
FUTURE OF VIRTUAL REALITY AND AUGMENTED REALITY
The AR and VR technology has weaved itself into the education, industrial and even military sectors. There might be differences between the two technologies but both are being embraced with open arms across fields due to the ease with which tasks can be performed or learnt which was not possible a few years before.
Educators have been using VR games not only as a source of fun but also to make a substantial difference in learning. Students need encouragement and inspiration to explore their capabilities. VR will eventually imbibe a desire for exploration more toward intellect and away from play.
“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless” said Jean-Jacques Rousseau, speaking in the 18th century.
Students need encouragement and inspiration to explore their capabilities.
The potential for Virtual and Augmented reality paired with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance learning offers abundant possibilities. Augmented Reality applications can help students to see learning objects in 3D and guide them in understanding difficult concepts. AR visualizations will become integral part of the learning process. In the near future, AR glasses will make this process even more seamless as visualizations will require only a voice command or tap on our eyewear.
“VR/AR holds immense potential to revamp the education system by means of offering multiple benefits and opportunities to the traditional classroom learning. It would not be hyperbola to say, VR is the next step to democratization of the knowledge. With VR Classroom setting, the rights to avail knowledge by all according to preference rather than force, clearly evidence the same.
With creation of optimum VR contents, competent structuring and greater accessibility of VR hardware devices, the integration of VR in the education field seems to mark a breakthrough in the future. VR/AR promises enhanced engagement, visibility, higher retention, and focus. The application of best-in breed VR technology to the education field would attract even the most unresponsive users, making the traditional education system more alive, immersive and relevant. What emerges out of this analysis is, with VR/AR uniquely positioned, the education goes from abstract to innate in a blink of an eye. VR/AR shaping the future of education in a way, every student would avail the opportunities they had never met in traditional classroom settings.”
Ankush Sharama, is the CEO of Yeppar, a startup focused on augmented and virtual reality solutions. The startup has fittingly restyled the manner in which people interact with print media like, newspapers, magazines, product catalogue etc…
Virtual Reality will make the world’s best museums or marine life at the bottom of the ocean instantly accessible. In addition, the use of hand controllers in VR will help student’s master practical skills through visual and haptic feedback. Virtual Reality and simulation environments will integrate experiential learning across the disciplines.
As the technology improves, students will receive immediate feedback on their performance. Embedding game dynamics in educational experiences will allow students to master skills and progress at their own pace. AI engines and eye-tracking software will transform how students interact with immersive environments.
With a simple scan, students will be able to access augmented models representing anything from a part of the human anatomy to a famous monument to a molecule. Also, students can access websites directly from the AR app. For example after scanning a photo linked with a 3D model of the Eiffel tower and viewing the augmented Eiffel tower, students can go directly to a web page with more information on the famous monument. This experience creates a complete learning cycle and students will be able to retain knowledge for a longer period of time.
Mark Zuckerberg says “I think people tend to be worried about every new technology that comes along. Critics worry that if we spend time paying attention to that new kind of media or technology instead of talking to each other that is somehow isolating. But humans are fundamentally social. So I think in reality, if a technology doesn’t actually help us socially understand each other better, it isn’t going to catch on and succeed. You could probably go all the way back to the first books. I bet people said ‘why should you read when you could talk to other people?’ The point of reading is that you get to deeply immerse yourself in a person’s perspective. Right? Same thing with newspapers or phones or TVs. Soon it will be VR, I bet.”
As we say time and tide waits for no one, technology is here to stay and will continue to progress in leaps and bounds. AR and VR it allows its users to immerse themselves into environments today. This will only improve the understanding of these environments and concepts and will result in better outcomes with fewer mistakes.
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:
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Regulation (NHERC) – compliance and governance
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Accreditation (NAC) – quality assurance
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Grants (HEGC) – performance-based funding
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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
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Streamlined oversight: Instead of navigating multiple authorities, institutions will liaise with one regulator.
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Better resource allocation: Integrated funding vertical offers performance incentives, echoing models in the UK and Australia.
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Unified standards: Accreditation and curriculum will be uniform, reducing interstate disparities.
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Global alignment: Can enhance India’s appeal with international quality frameworks.
Risks & Concerns
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Centralisation: Experts warn that vesting extensive power in one body may over-centralise control, risking academic freedom.
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Loss of specialised oversight: Domain experts from UGC, AICTE, and NCTE may be diluted.
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Bureaucratic inertia: Transition could bring its own delays and resistance from existing bodies.
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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
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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.
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