Knowledge
How to banish exam stress? No gyan; all practical tips!
Stress is not what you get; it is what you take. And exams have been conducted since times immemorial; there is nothing new in it – it is just that stress has been the recent addition in the curriculum. The one who added it is you – and only you can banish it!
Published
8 years agoon

The famous American football coach Paul Eugene Brown has said: "The key to winning is poise under stress". You might say here is another baba distributing his gyan on stress. But, read on!
Bet that simply the idea of banishing exam stress will leave you thrilled to resume your studies with enthusiasm.
“Exam stress is worrying about failure in the exam. Do not take the stress, it’s harmful for health, for your concentration and makes things worse than better. Take a deep breath, do these exercises, make such a timetable, eat a healthy diet and so on.”
Aren’t all sites, books and newspapers sounding the same a month before your exams? It seems you are their only target to share their wisdom. And you get so overloaded with wisdom that even wisdom begins to stress you.
“We’ve had it enough. As it is we are stressed, and these gyan lecturers are busy distributing their wisdom to us. Why don’t they leave us alone and let us be ourselves? Or even if they want to help us genuinely, give us something we can rely upon. Not these outdated and boring breathing exercises.”
Your reaction is the same, right? Obviously, one would react in such a manner when he is stressed and on the top of it the lectures from family, relatives, and these gyan gurus.
But, nothing of that sort will be dwelt with here. You only have to read on to know.
Study for yourself and to learn
Before discussing the ways to eliminate stress, do you know the full form of EXAMS?
“Examination” would be your answer; however, it is actually “Excitement and Masti with Studies”. Hope half of your stress would be relieved on knowing the exact meaning of exams?
You would be wondering, how exams could mean excitement and masti? Why not? After all, it’s we who have made the examination time a tough and testing one, a time to take stress. Though your parents and teachers have a lot of expectations from you to score well in exams but remember you are not appearing the exam for them, it is for yourself.
If you score well in exams, you will be appreciated by your teachers, parents, and friends. But, if not, they will be the one to scold you and feel annoyed. This means you are appearing in exams to get affection and appreciation from them; your self-esteem and confidence are based on their judgement.
Examination is Excitement and Masti with Studies. When you understand this, half of of your stress would be relieved.
If they approve of you, you feel confident otherwise not. Though it’s normal to have expectations, but, ultimately you study for yourself and not for other’s sake. Your focus for study should be an enhancement in your learning and not just score grades to achieve others’ appreciation.
Remember the character Tyrion Lannister in the series Game of Thrones. Though he is small in size but makes up for his weakness by his high-level intellect. All the more, despite his size, he has a girlfriend.
What does the character display? What message does he want to convey? “Just stop trying to impress people around or care about what they say. Even if you do something cool, they may find reasons to disapprove you.” Similarly, you must not focus on unusual expectations laid by your teachers and parents.
Agreed, today’s schools and parents lay emphasis only on the grades obtained by the student and you can’t change the system. But, at least you can change your perspective towards your studies and exams. Most of the students get stressed at the exam time due to the pressure of expectations by their parents and teachers.
No TV, no phones, no hanging out with friends, no chatting on social media, in short nothing else than books must be your companion during exam time, are the instructions given by most parents.
Revealing his agony about parental pressure, Mayank Srivastava, a 13-year-old boy says that his family dreams about his admission in one of the top colleges of IIT. However, Tushar is least interested in IIT and wishes to gain admission in one of the fine arts college. And by the way isn’t 13 too early an age to think about IIT? At 13 or even 14, 15, 16 one should just be doing two things – playing and Studying. You have only been studying, hence the exam stress.
Such parental pressures are common in every household. Let their expectations be and don’t get overwhelmed by them. Don’t retaliate and oppose your parents openly, but try to talk freely about your desires, capacity to learn and how you wish to proceed with your preparations.
You must study for yourself, keeping your learning process at the centre stage and you will automatically score well in exams. Having an open conversation with your parents and handling their expectations with a calm mind will help them understand your stress and make them supportive in your exam preparations. By remaining silent or accusing them, you would make the matters worse.
At 13 or even 14, 15, 16 one should just be doing two things – playing and studying. You have only been studying, hence the exam stress.
Was that too philosophical? Yeah! It seems to be so, but you need to set a clear goal for your studies; whether it’s just passing an exam or learning something new. Once you proceed with a clear aim, you can make your study time fun and interesting by exploring various ways to learning a concept; rather than just memorising and forgetting it later.
Because once you learn and understand a concept, it will be imbibed in your memory for life and you wouldn’t require an extra effort to remember it. Contrastingly, just cramming and memorising the lessons would give no result. They would be forgotten due to stress and you won’t be able to reproduce them in the examination; further adding to your stress.
Moreover, the approach of the students towards the exam is very cynical. They feel that the schools conduct exams to test their knowledge, but actually, it’s not a test, it’s an opportunity to know your strengths and weaknesses. Exams are a medium where you know your field of excellence and shortcomings related to your studies.
Engage in creative ways to make study time fun and combat boredom
Many students equate effectiveness of their study with the number of hours spent with books. However, it’s not the quantity but quality of time spent reading the book or taking notes that matters. It’s not worthwhile to spend hours with your book and not learning even worth a single penny.
Moreover, learning doesn’t only happen by reading books. Engaging in interactive activities and fun games also makes you learn and retain it for longer. This is how exams become exciting and enjoyable. You learn better by doing it yourself; rather than just reading from the book.
Let’s say you are reading about the Archimedes principle that states “The buoyant force or upthrust exerted on an object partially or completely immersed in water is equal to the weight of the water displaced by the object.”
You would be reading several examples explaining the principle like why does an air balloon float whereas the iron needle sinks in water. And you cram the concept and write exactly the same in your answer paper. But, did you ever try to learn and understand the principle? Ever tried using the principle in your daily life?
Did you know bathing in your bathtub is also dependent on the same principle? That’s why a level is engraved on the bath tub to warn people to avoid filling it beyond that level.
Yes, you might be a champ in memorising things and remembering them, but did you learn anything by simply reproducing it in the exam? This was just one concept, but you have to memorise a number of lessons for the exam and the process gets boring after sometime. You tend to lose your motivation as well.
“People often say motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” Motivation needs to be constant in order to stay upbeat through your exams. Surround yourself with positive and hard-working people that keep you motivated to follow the right approach towards your exams.
Incorporate some fun experiments to learn your lessons, you will learn better and remain motivated to study and explore further. Use your imagination and creativity to think beyond the lines written in the chapter.
For example, while solving a Maths equation, just imagine a situation where you can fit those numbers and arrive at the answer. This helps to escape boredom and makes studying easier and fun.
Sharing his experience, Sena Alkadir from Garfield High School used a simulation of a presidential election to learn and understand the different aspects of elections in an interactive manner. “Although I knew everything about elections, but simulating an actual election helped me to understand better how they work and how do different groups have an influence over an election”, says Alkadir.
Incorporate some fun experiments to learn your lessons, you will learn better and remain motivated to study and explore further. Use your imagination and creativity to think beyond the lines written in the chapter.
Having fun while studying is the reason for the rising trend of studying in groups, where students study, gossip, and enjoy together. After reading a particular topic, you can organise a quiz amongst yourselves to have fun and know how much you have learned and understood the chapter.
Do not keep your exam preparations for the last minute
Preparation for your exams, better to call it learning process needs to be consistent; just like an athlete needs to practice round the year and not only when the competition is near. If you focus on your learning process during regular school hours and while doing your homework the whole year, you need not panic at the time of exams. Examination time can then be utilised for revision of topics or practising your weaker subjects.
Many students argue that regular school hours are so hectic, plus, teachers resort to assigning loads of homework that they are not able to find time for any extra-curricular activities or outdoor games to relax their mind. This further leads to their loss of interest in studying and learning. They just feel like getting through the boring lectures delivered in class and finishing their homework whatsoever.
Sarah, a student in New Jersey remembers one of her experiences in school. Every day her class schedule was the same: read the chapter, complete the worksheets and copy down immense PowerPoints for the rest of the class. The only learning in class was to learn to write fast and continue writing even with hand cramps. “I never really learned anything in that class; I just memorised the information, took a test on it and then forgot everything. Imagine that cycle for an entire year. It was tremendously boring.”
True, the methods of teaching in many schools require students to be seated at their desks for long hours and listen to the lecture delivered. Such one-way teaching fails to maintain the student’s interest in the subject, more so in learning.
If the schools cater to the learning demands of the student and revise their teaching methods to make them interactive, it would benefit the students in the long run. However, you can suggest some ideas for interactive learning in your school because the trend is changing now and schools are open to new ideas and methods of teaching.
Setting an example of a practical approach to learning and its benefits to their students, the Head teacher at Manor Public School, Kate McGee explains how her school utilises practical activities like gardening, cooking, and filmmaking to teach English, Maths, Philosophy and other subjects.
In her opinion, children respond and learn better when engaged in practical activities, rather than reading from textbooks. They grow in confidence if you give them a task to do, which they are able to achieve. And this can be incorporated into teaching the curriculum in an effective, engaging and enjoyable way.
In case you resort to last minute preparations, which though are not advisable, set your priorities for studying a particular topic according to its relevance.
Plus, such learning won’t require continuous revision now and then and students will be better prepared for their exams. It opens their mind to a vast variety of experiences in the subject and raises their chances of success.
However, in case you resort to last minute preparations, which though are not advisable, set your priorities for studying a particular topic according to its relevance. Do not aim at completing the entire syllabus at the last moment; this will create an undue pressure and enhance your anxiety.
Just aim to cover the relevant topics and give your best shot. Amit, a class XII student of Green Fields School, New Delhi shares his story on this. He was a bright student and became a little overconfident of himself. He resorted to last minute studies for his exam thinking he already knows the concept and could make it with little revision at the final hour.
But, to his surprise when he sat down for studies, he realised that he had missed out on many topics and would not be able to cover the entire syllabus for the exam; leading to stress and anxiety. He then recalled the words of his Maths teacher, “If you can’t complete 100% of your syllabus, do it as much as you can, but give your 100% to that little chunk of the syllabus.”
What he meant to deliver through these words was that you must be consistent with your studies and learning throughout the year. Yet, if you feel you can complete only 60% of the syllabus at the exam time, do that 60% sincerely. Aiming for 100% at a short notice only makes you anxious and even that 60% will be lost, leaving you blank and completely helpless.
Be confident of yourself
“A great figure or physique is nice, but it is self-confidence that makes someone really beautiful.”
However, the undue pressure from the teachers and parents and vastness of the curriculum may leave some students with a lack of confidence in themselves. This not only occurs minutes before entering an examination hall but also haunts during exam preparations.
Students carrying books to the examination hall, flipping through pages at the last minute, and biting their nails is a common sight during these months. No, there is no harm to carry a textbook along to the examination hall, but experts recommend relaxing and thinking about happy stuff few minutes before the exam to combat anxiety.
Like you can think about some funny joke cracked by your friend or a comedy scene watched on TV before your exam. The idea is to relax and keep your mind deviated from the obvious anxiety before entering the examination hall.
Don’t let the pressure of your teachers and parents overpower you. Stay calm, have a positive approach towards yourself and your studies, and prepare well. Do not keep anything for the last moment revision just before entering an examination hall.
A great figure or physique is nice, but it is self-confidence that makes someone really beautiful
It’s advisable to review your chapters by organising a question answer session with your friend an evening before the day of the exam. The review helps to test your expertise on the subject, diagnose any flaws that need your attention and build your confidence to face the exam.
Moreover, the more you fear, more you will lose your confidence and more will be the stress. The only way to develop self-confidence is to do the things you fear. If you fear the subject of Maths, sit down and solve some equations, don’t fear whether you will do right or wrong, just do it and gradually you will experience self-confidence and a sense of achievement.
Remember the caption of the soft drink, “Mountain Dew”, “Darr ke Aage Jeet Hai”. It’s not only a caption to market their product, but reflects the truth of life. Until you indulge into doing the task, you won’t learn and won’t develop self-confidence.
Sleep tight and sleep on time
All are aware of the saying “Early to bed, early to rise makes the man healthy, wealthy and wise.” But the recommendation is now taken for granted and students do not pay any heed to it, thinking it to be a fool’s statement.
Though the significance of adequate sleep can’t be ignored even at normal times, examinations are the time to follow the advice more sincerely. Do not stay up late till night for your studies. Prepare your time-table accordingly so that you go to bed at the same time every day. This is in accordance with your body clock that is accustomed to sleeping and eating at particular times.
Any major changes with the routine will have negative effects on your body and mind, further disturbing your concentration and shaking your confidence. A good night’s sleep is essential for your brain to analyse and store the things you have read.
We are not forging into the bad effects of waking late till night; everyone is aware of it. The immediate tiredness and bad mood experienced says a lot about the bad effects of sleeping late at night. You not only have to sleep early but, also consider the daily sleeping routine which must be consistent.
Never go to bed reading a chapter or solving some heavy maths equation; your mind tends to reconcile on those things during sleep and you do not get complete rest. It is advisable to listen to some soft instrumental music or read a motivational story before going to bed.
What majority students do is wake up till 2-3 am at night romancing their textbooks and sleep late in the morning to cover up on their sleep. Either they wake up late wasting most part of their day or feel tired after rising. Have you ever realised what impact will this have on your concentration?
And then you blame the vast syllabus for your anxiety. It’s not the syllabus alone, rather your approach towards it that makes sense. You can either plan and maintain a balance between your health and studies or just keep on studying like an owl.
Moreover, staying awake till late hours on the day just prior to your exam is all the more harmful. Go to bed early on that day and wake up 15-30 minutes prior to your usual waking time so that you can get ready for the exam on time.
The correct method of study
Normally, students just cram their chapters and feel they are done with their preparation. But, when it’s time to write in an answer paper, they just go blank and are unable to recollect the answer.
To avoid this, it’s important to always take down the things you read in your own writing so that you remember them for a longer period of time and enhance your learning. The common habit of students is to highlight the major points in a chapter with a special pen and then keep on memorising it for hours.
No doubt highlighting the important points does serve your purpose of paying attention to the chunk of information from a pool of knowledge. Yet, writing down things in your own language reiterates the concept in your mind and you understand and retain for longer.
For example, while learning about the important dates of a historical event, you can create a small table highlighting the event with its date, so that you can just have a look at the gist of the information while revising the chapter.
Stressing the importance of writing your own notes, Nehmat Mongia, a student of Modern School, Barakhamba who scored more than 95% in her board exams said, “I used to write and rewrite everything I studied. I did so not for studying or remembering before the exams, but to understand things and it was as if only I could teach myself. I did just that and made studying a fun activity.”
Moreover, the place of your study has a deep impact on your concentration and ability to grasp your concepts. You have different sites mentioning the amount of light, the things to keep at the study table and to study only on the chair while preparing for your exams.
But, do you know how your study table and chair must be inclined? Many students are seen either slipping down into the chair or bending their necks down for long hours at studying. Your study table and the chair must be so designed that your neck remains straight while studying and your feet touches the ground while sitting.
How is posture related with exam stress? Not directly, but a bad posture while studying tends to hurt your neck and back muscles making them stiff. To attain maximum concentration while studying, you not only need a healthy mind but, also a healthy body.
If you are sick or suffering from pain anywhere in the body, you won’t be able to concentrate on your studies and would panic with anxiety.
Significance of a healthy diet during exams
The significance of a healthy diet can’t be overstressed at this hour. Many students believe in spending hours at their study table to prepare for their exams and in an extreme state give up eating proper meals and indulge in eating only fruits. They hold the opinion that eating much will make them feel sleepy and disturb their study routine.
But, actually, they don’t realise that eating well during exams is more crucial than at any other time. Avoiding meals to prevent falling asleep afterwards is not the solution. You must prepare your study routine to take time out for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This not only provides you with necessary nutrition but relaxes your mind from the burden of studies.
Sleepiness after a meal is mostly encountered if you consume food products with high amounts of fat like chips, fried products and so on. Keep your meals healthy and devoid of transfat and sugar to avoid feeling drowsy. In case you feel lethargic after a meal, listen to some instrumental and lively music for few minutes before sitting down for your studies.
“My appetite is dead. I don’t feel like eating anything. If I eat something, I will vomit.” These are the excuses commonly heard by the students during their exams. It happens because they think more and worry more about their performance in exams.
As the saying goes, “Fools worry, and wise prepare”, so it’s obvious you don’t want to behave like a fool at this hour. Eating the right thing at the right time is the secret behind healthy body and mind. Not only nutrition but what you eat can help you cope with your exam stress.
All the more, you can make meal time a learning time too. Have a look at the vegetables cooked for your lunch and dinner and try to memorise the vitamins and minerals you receive from them. Learning in this manner is fun and doesn’t create a burden on you for memorising the facts.
“Fools worry, and wise prepare”, so it’s obvious you don’t want to behave like a fool at this hour.
Eat smaller and frequent meals and avoid large meals at this time, as they tend to make you drowsy. Green vegetables, fruits like strawberries, amla, oranges, tomatoes, and whole grain cereals like oats, barley, and whole wheat are a must in your diet regime. For the non-vegetarians, eggs and lean meat provide the necessary memory boosting nutrients.
Treat water as your best friend in the examination days. However, do not keep a water bottle or a plate of snacks near your study place. This ensures that you get up and take a minutes’ walk around the house whenever you feel thirsty or hungry in between; breaking away from the sedentary routine of studying and relaxing your mind every few hours.
Take in these words with full attention. Do not take tea, coffee or other caffeinated drinks at this stage. Many students take tea or coffee to help them stay awake till late in the night for their studies or to avoid sleepiness in between. But, such things do more harm than good.
Instead, if you feel sleepy, munch on some healthy snack like a vegetable sandwich or have a glass of water or take a walk outside in fresh air to refresh your mood and take a break from the study routine.
Do not compare yourself with your peers
Many students have a habit of discussing with their friends as to how many topics they have covered for the exam. There is nothing wrong with this custom till it keeps you motivated to prepare well for your exams.
However, if you start a comparison of yourself with your peers and look down upon yourself, the habit needs to be restricted. Every student has his own aptitude and pace of learning, even you have your own.
If you wish to discuss any doubt with your friends or plan an interactive quiz to check your knowledge, the conversation will be fruitful and rewarding for your learning and motivation. But, discussing and comparing yourself with others may have a negative impact on your confidence level.
If you feel that you are not confident enough and talking to your friends further demoralises you, stop indulging in such conversations before and during the exams. Even after completing the examination paper, do not discuss the answers with your peers. Be confident of your preparation and move ahead with any flaws you might discover therein.
Just remember, you are in competition with no one; just with yourself. If you find yourself better than yesterday, you achieve your goal. In fact, this trend of competition that has gripped our society today is more destructive than constructive for human minds.
Everybody is focusing on becoming better than the rest but no one focuses on being better than what they were yesterday; a notion that has led to a blind competition and stress in individuals. They never try to learn a new skill and be better equipped than yesterday, but wish to be ahead of others.
A scene in the Bollywood film 3 Idiots reminds us of this valuable theory of learning and not comparing with others. When Aamir khan was explaining the correct method of teaching to Boman Irani by using two useless words, he stressed the importance of learning and not paying attention to coming first or second in the class.
No one will pay attention to your class rank later in life, but how you perform today is what matters . And comparing yourself to others doesn’t make you learn, only increases your pressure and stress for the studies.
Do not underestimate yourself by comparing yourself with others. After all, it’s these differences that make us unique and beautiful. So, respect your differences with others and utilise them for your exam preparation.
Instead of comparing, leverage these differences in learning and propelling each other forward in exam preparations. For example, if you are good at algebra and your friend excels at vocabulary, you both can help each other with your respective weaker fields.
Pursue your hobbies even during exams
No fun, no chatting, and no shopping. This is the notion carried by most students during their exams. If not, it will be stressed by your parents; a big NO to everything. “Forget your mobile phones for few days, forget there is any cable connection in the house till your exams are over”, says your father.
Though some of these things prove to be distracting from your studies, but, giving them up completely is not advisable. You can’t sit glued to your chair for the whole day peeping into your textbooks; your mind needs to de-stress and relax in between, but the pressure from your parents doesn’t let you indulge in them.
However, it depends upon you how you use these mediums; only in moderation to relax your mind or become completely distracted from your studies. If you use them in moderation at particular times to break free from the sedentary routine of studying, no parents would pose an objection.
In fact, many parents encourage their children to engage in their hobbies or favourite pastime even during exams to help them de-stress their minds. As said before, exams are not punishing times, but, an opportunity to test your knowledge and know your strengths and weaknesses. So, why change your routine during the exams, why drift apart from your hobbies?
M. Gayathri, the All- India CBSE topper of the year 2015 pursued her hobbies even during the board exams as she revealed to a The Hindustan Times reporter. Talking about her relaxing tip, she added “Unlike others, I did not discontinue my hobbies during the exams. In fact, singing and painting helped me to de-stress during that time.”
What can be inferred from her experience is that stress is common and obvious during examination time. However, do not let stress overpower you, simply find ways to cope with it, just like Gayathri did by engaging herself in singing and painting.
Yet, another trend seen amongst students is planning for their exam preparation in advance. No doubt, we do advise to plan out a timetable for studying, exercises, meal time, and relaxation. But, how should you go about these plans is the main catch?
Do not plan your entire preparations for the month or a week at one go, but go about planning each day step by step. If you plan for the entire week or month, chances are high that you won’t be able to stick to them and get demotivated and stressed in return.
Contrastingly, planning for each day step by step keeps you motivated and rewards you with a sense of achievement at the end of the day. Indulge in giving yourself a treat when you accomplish your task every day.
Sukriti Gupta, the All-India CBSE topper of the last year doesn’t believe in excessive planning for the exams but taking one step at a time. She further advises other students preparing for their exams to follow NCERT books strictly, not fall into the trap of studying for 14 hours a day and not to expect any last minute miracles.
She further owes her success to the regular routine she followed, be it for her studies, diet regime or exercises.
There is no short-cut to success; hard work and consistency in your preparations is the only key.
You may like
-
Beyond the Buzz: Investors Call for Grounded AI Innovation in Indian Classrooms
-
Education Ministry Launches National Drive for Healthier, Safer Schools
-
Government School Enrolment Drops Across States, Centre Flags ‘Disturbing Trend’
-
Over 10,000 Unrecognised Schools in Bihar, Jharkhand: Education Ministry Flags Violation of RTE Act
-
PadhAI Conclave Highlights Urgent Role of Artificial Intelligence in Indian Education
-
University of Liverpool to Open First International Campus in Bengaluru by 2026
-
Curriculum Controversy at Delhi University: Academic Voices Clash Over Syllabus Overhaul
-
CBSE Directs Schools to Map Mother Tongues, Pushes for Multilingual Classrooms in Foundational Years
-
Ministry of Education Launches Month-Long Nationwide Drive to Make Schools and Colleges Tobacco-Free
-
Banu Mushtaq’s International Booker Win Is a Wake-Up Call for Indian Schools to Reclaim Literature
Education
Beyond the Buzz: Investors Call for Grounded AI Innovation in Indian Classrooms
Published
26 minutes agoon
June 5, 2025
At a time when Artificial Intelligence (AI) headlines dominate global discourse, a quieter but more consequential conversation is unfolding in India’s education sector—one that cuts through the hype to explore whether AI is genuinely improving learning outcomes or just riding a wave of fascination.
In its latest article titled “Not Just Hype: What Investors Really Think About AI in Indian Education”, Entrepreneur India reported on insights shared by Ganapathy Venugopal, Co-founder & CEO of Axilor Ventures, at the IGIS 2025 forum. Offering a candid investor’s lens, Venugopal remarked, “We’ve seen plenty of hype around AI. But for us, it’s about where the real value lies—can it solve something fundamental, like India’s teacher-student gap?” According to him, the most investable AI tools are not the flashiest but the most functional—those that support teachers, amplify their effectiveness, and reach where human resources fall short.
Echoing this, Kobi Gal from Ben-Gurion University pointed out that while AI has democratised access to learning, it hasn’t yet changed the core of how we learn. “The education system remains rigid. AI can increase reach, yes, but transformation is still elusive,” he said.
India’s edtech sector is poised for growth with its vast K–12 student base and rapidly expanding internet access. However, a major challenge remains—only 24% of households have internet, per NSSO data. This makes Tier II–IV cities a key battleground for AI-powered learning tools. Investors are now shifting focus from “edtech” as a label to learning outcomes, engagement, and job-readiness, with AI viewed as an enabler rather than a product category.
Venugopal pointedly questioned current trends: “Are we building tools to complete homework, or to change how we learn?” His statement taps into the broader tension—between consumer-friendly shortcuts and pedagogically sound, scalable solutions.
At ScooNews Global Educators Fest (SGEF) 2023, this theme of AI with a conscience was also central. Held in Jaipur, the festival brought together educators, artists, and changemakers to discuss how artificial intelligence can serve—not replace—human values in education. Noted speakers like Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Rama Datt, and Padma Shri Anand Kumar reinforced the idea that technology must remain grounded in empathy, inclusivity, and purpose. A memorable moment was Anand Kumar’s speech on whether AI could ever truly replace a teacher’s role—a thought-provoking precursor to the investor sentiments voiced at IGIS 2025.
The conversation today is no longer about AI replacing the classroom, but enhancing it. With investor confidence growing in tools that support hybrid delivery models, regional customisation, and lifelong learning, the sector appears headed toward a more sustainable future.
Yet, Venugopal issued a final word of caution: “We look at sectors where demand is unquestionable and the cost of not solving the problem is high. Education in India fits that bill. But we must build with humility—and rigour.”
As India’s AI-powered education future unfolds, investors, educators, and innovators alike seem to agree: the goal is not disruption for disruption’s sake, but designing systems that serve learners in meaningful, measurable ways.
📌 Stay tuned for SGEF 2025 — This year, we gather under the theme: “Purpose-Driven Education: Designing for Future Realities.” Explore how we can reimagine school curricula to align with the evolving needs of our society and the professional world. Register here
Education
Government School Enrolment Drops Across States, Centre Flags ‘Disturbing Trend’
Published
3 days agoon
June 2, 2025
A recent report by The Indian Express reveals a worrisome shift in India’s school enrolment patterns—more students are opting for private institutions, even in states with a robust network of government schools. During meetings held by the Ministry of Education with state officials in March–April 2025 to discuss projects under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, the Centre flagged this as a “disturbing trend.”
In states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttarakhand, the enrolment in unaided private schools has consistently risen despite government schools forming the majority in number. For instance, in Andhra Pradesh, 73% of schools are government-run, yet they account for just 46% of total student enrolment. Similarly, Telangana’s government schools form 70% of total schools but educate only 38% of students, compared to nearly 61% in private schools.
This trend isn’t isolated. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and several northeastern states have also reported declining numbers in government school enrolment. The Union Ministry has urged states to reverse this decline, citing the need for introspection and reform. In Tamil Nadu, for example, government schools make up 64% of the total but serve just 37% of the student population.
Interestingly, some states have responded by conducting Aadhaar-based “data cleansing” to explain the drops. Still, the Centre believes deeper, systemic issues—such as rising aspirations and perceptions of quality—are driving families towards private schooling.
The concern goes beyond statistics. According to UDISE+ 2023–24 data, 36% of total school enrolment in India (over 9 crore students) is now in private schools. In 2022–23, it was 33%. Pre-pandemic figures already indicated this steady rise.
Where Do Government Schools Go From Here?
The falling trust in government schools paints a grim picture—especially when education budgets face cuts and systemic reform remains slow. However, all is not lost. States like Madhya Pradesh are setting examples through initiatives like the CM Rise Schools, which aim to rejuvenate public education with upgraded infrastructure, teacher training, and modern pedagogy.
But such success stories remain scattered. Without strong policy backing, increased funding, and public support, the future of government schooling appears uncertain. In an era of aggressive privatisation—be it formal schooling or the booming coaching industry—government schools risk being sidelined unless urgently revitalised.
Why must they survive? Because they remain the only accessible option for millions, especially in rural and marginalised communities. They are not just institutions—they’re vehicles of social equity, offering a shot at mobility to those who may otherwise be left behind.
Education
Banu Mushtaq’s International Booker Win Is a Wake-Up Call for Indian Schools to Reclaim Literature
Published
2 weeks agoon
May 22, 2025
When Banu Mushtaq became the first Kannada author to win the prestigious International Booker Prize for her short story collection Heart Lamp, she didn’t just make literary history—she reignited a conversation about the role of literature in shaping society, and the way schools can nurture future writers not just as hobbyists, but as cultural forces.
Mushtaq, along with translator Deepa Bhasthi, was honoured for Heart Lamp, a collection of stories chronicling the lives of Muslim women in Karnataka across three decades. The stories are rooted in resistance, critique of religious and patriarchal structures, and everyday courage. The recognition was not just for the literary craft, but for the emotional and moral clarity the stories offer—a kind of truth that is rarely rewarded in global spaces. But the International Booker did just that.
And yet, how many students in Indian classrooms today know what the Booker Prize even is? While the Grammys, Oscars and even YouTube Play Buttons are common cultural currency among young people, literary awards often pass under the radar. This needs to change.
The International Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious literary honours in the world, recognising the finest works of fiction translated into English. It opens up space for voices that often remain local to reach a global stage. For students in India, this is an opportunity to understand that writing, especially in regional languages, is not a dead-end path. Yes, it may not offer the instant gratification of a viral video or influencer deal—but as Mushtaq’s life proves, it can shape public discourse, win global accolades, and leave behind a legacy that matters.
For educators, this is a teaching moment. Banu Mushtaq’s story is as much about literary merit as it is about resilience. She wrote in Kannada, a language she adopted over her native Urdu. She survived deep personal trauma, including a suicide attempt, and faced social backlash for her activism. She was a councillor, a journalist, and a lifelong advocate for women’s rights. These are the kinds of role models classrooms should be spotlighting—especially for young girls who need to see that stories, quite literally, can change lives.
Heart Lamp may not be appropriate for every age group, but its themes—identity, voice, justice—can be introduced in many ways. Schools should consider book discussions, literary circles, or even creative writing prompts inspired by such works to encourage students to find their voice, in whatever language or form it may come.
This win is also a reminder that educators need to broaden the definition of success they present to students. STEM, coding, and commerce continue to dominate career conversations, but it’s equally crucial to show that the arts—especially literature—have their own path to impact and influence. We hope for a time when young writers are not asked “what else do you do?” but are valued for what their words bring to the world.
Banu Mushtaq’s Booker Prize win is not just an individual triumph—it’s a collective opportunity. For schools, for students, and for all of us who believe that a powerful story can change minds, communities, and someday, the world.
Education
Human (Soft) Skills: The Missing Piece in School Curriculums
Published
2 weeks agoon
May 19, 2025
As the future of work continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the ability to be human is our greatest advantage. In an age where automation and AI are reshaping industries, it’s no longer technical proficiency that sets students apart, it’s human skills.
And yet, our schools aren’t keeping up.
Globally, education systems remain heavily weighted towards academic and technical achievement. While these are certainly important, they no longer tell the whole story. Employers across sectors are united in their call for graduates who can communicate effectively, manage stress, work in diverse teams, and adapt to constant change.
Deloitte’s 2019 report The path to prosperity: Why the future of work is human found that by 2030, two-thirds of all jobs created will be reliant on human capabilities. These include empathy, creativity, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and the ability to learn continuously. All of which are underdeveloped in our current school structures.
This is not a theoretical problem. The impact is already being felt. Research consistently shows that up to 68% of high school students report feeling anxious, underprepared, and lacking the confidence to take the next step into work or further education. The transition from school to career requires more than ‘knowledge acquisition,’ it requires self awareness.
Human skills are the gateway to that self-awareness. They help students identify their strengths, regulate their emotions, communicate effectively, and develop resilience. These are the foundational competencies that allow young people to navigate uncertainty and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Importantly, these skills are not innate. They are learned, practised, and refined over time — just like maths, science, or coding. When introduced early, human skill development empowers students with confidence and clarity. They learn how to navigate social complexity, resolve conflicts, deal with failure, and see growth as a lifelong journey rather than a fixed destination.
So, why aren’t we teaching these skills in schools as deliberately as we teach literacy or numeracy?
Perhaps it’s because human skills feel harder to measure. But we must shift our mindset. What we value, we measure — and what we measure, we teach. Forward-thinking educators and school leaders across the globe are beginning to incorporate social-emotional learning, strengths-based development, and mental wellbeing into their curriculums, recognising that these are not “nice-to-haves” — they are must-haves.
Imagine a student graduating from high school with not just academic marks, but a toolkit of emotional and interpersonal strengths: an understanding of who they are, what drives them, and how to manage themselves under pressure. Imagine a generation that sees learning as a lifelong pursuit and failure as a stepping stone rather than a setback.
This is the future we must design for.
It starts by giving human skills a seat at the table – not as a supplement to education, but as a core component of it. We need to empower educators with the tools and frameworks to deliver this kind of learning and where necessary provide expert facilitators to avoid adding more to the workload of educators. We need to engage students in real, reflective experiences that help them connect their inner world with the outer demands of life and work.
The most meaningful educational innovation doesn’t just teach students to do more. It teaches them to be more – to be self-aware, to be empathetic, to be adaptable. That’s how we create work-ready individuals and life-ready citizens.
The world doesn’t need more rote learners. It needs more critical thinkers, resilient leaders, and emotionally intelligent problem solvers. And the time to cultivate them is now – in our classrooms, through our curriculums, and with intention.
This article is authored by Renata Sguario
Renata Sguario is the founder and CEO of Maxme and the current chairman of the board of Future First Technology (formerly known as PS+C Limited), listed on the ASX (FFT), one of Australia’s leading end-to-end ICT and digital consulting organisations.
Education
CBSE’s ‘Sugar Boards’ Initiative: Tackling the Sweet Crisis in Indian Schools
Published
2 weeks agoon
May 19, 2025
In an effort to combat rising sugar consumption among students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools to establish “Sugar Boards”—a dedicated awareness initiative designed to monitor and educate students about the dangers of excessive sugar intake. This decision follows a sharp increase in Type 2 diabetes among children, a condition once primarily seen in adults, but now a growing concern in school-aged populations.
Why Sugar is Becoming a Silent Crisis
The CBSE has observed a troubling rise in Type 2 diabetes among students over the past decade. Health experts attribute this trend to the easy availability of sugary snacks, soft drinks, and processed foods within school environments. Studies indicate that sugar constitutes 13% of daily calorie intake for children aged 4 to 10 years and 15% for those aged 11 to 18 years—far exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit of 5%.
These Sugar Boards, mandated by CBSE, will serve as educational displays within schools, informing students about the risks of excessive sugar consumption. They will display critical information, such as:
-
Recommended daily sugar intake
-
Sugar content in commonly consumed foods (sweets, sodas, chocolates)
-
Health risks associated with high sugar intake, including obesity, diabetes, and dental problems
-
Healthier dietary alternatives
The directive also encourages schools to conduct awareness seminars and workshops, helping students make informed food choices. Schools are required to submit reports and photographs of their Sugar Boards by July 15.
The Real Enemy is Advertising
But while the CBSE is focusing on sugar consumption within schools, global research highlights a much larger problem—junk food advertising. As reported by The South First in a recent story, a study presented at the 2024 European Congress on Obesity in Malaga found that even five minutes of exposure to junk food advertisements could cause children to consume an extra 130 kilocalories per day. Professor Emma Boyland from the University of Liverpool explained, “Our results show that unhealthy food marketing leads to sustained increases in caloric intake among young people—enough to promote weight gain over time.”
This research highlights that children’s sugar consumption is not just influenced by what they eat in school but also by what they see on their screens. Junk food marketing—whether through TV, online ads, or even brand-only advertisements—significantly impacts children’s eating habits.
Nithin Kamath, Founder & CEO of Zerodha & Rainmatter Foundation, and a popular LinkedIn thought leader, recently highlighted the Sugar Boards initiative on social media, thanking Food Pharmer (Revant Himatsingka) for contributing to this change with his content.
Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Food Pharmer, has been a vocal advocate for healthier eating habits among children. His digital content, which breaks down the sugar content of everyday foods—from malted drinks to packaged juices—has gained widespread attention and spurred conversations on healthy eating among parents, schools, and policymakers.
Kamath’s post acknowledged that while the CBSE’s initiative is a step in the right direction, true change requires parental awareness and action. “Now to figure out how to get parents to care about it. How to reduce sodas, coffee/tea (majority of it is mostly sugar), malted drinks, chocolates, sweets, etc.,” he wrote.
Will ‘Sugar Boards’ Be Enough?
While the Sugar Boards are a commendable initiative, many may argue that they are only part of the solution. Schools can monitor students’ sugar intake on campus, but the problem extends beyond the school gates. Children are exposed to junk food advertising on social media, in video games, and even through influencer endorsements.
Professor Boyland’s research shows that even brand-only food ads—advertisements that showcase brand logos without directly promoting food—can significantly increase children’s calorie intake. This means that without stricter advertising regulations, schools may find it difficult to counter the impact of sugar marketing.
CBSE’s Sugar Boards are a commendable initiative, but their success will depend on consistent awareness efforts, parental involvement, and broader policy changes. Experts recommend a multi-pronged approach:
-
Stricter regulations on junk food marketing aimed at children
-
Mandatory nutrition education as part of the curriculum
-
Collaboration with parents to reduce sugary foods at home
-
Regular health check-ups and BMI monitoring in schools
With diabetes and obesity on the rise among young Indians, addressing the sugar crisis is no longer just a dietary choice—it is a public health necessity.
Education
Geopolitics in Classrooms: Why India’s Students Need to Understand the World Beyond Borders
Published
3 weeks agoon
May 15, 2025
In a world where a tweet can trigger diplomatic disputes and a trade ban can reshape global supply chains, understanding geopolitics is no longer just for diplomats—it’s for everyone. Yet, as Jaimine Vaishnav’s thought-provoking article, “Breaking Barriers: The Case for Rethinking Geopolitical Education in India,” highlights, Indian education remains stubbornly siloed. Students in fields like technology, design, or engineering are rarely encouraged to explore the world of international relations, cultural diplomacy, or the geopolitics of technology. But should they be?
For a country with one of the world’s largest and youngest populations, India’s education system is remarkably conservative in its approach to interdisciplinary learning. According to Vaishnav, fewer than 4.3% of India’s top technological institutions offer substantial coursework in international relations. Even among design schools, a mere 2.7% address the intersection of aesthetics and global diplomacy. In a world where design is soft power and technology is a geopolitical weapon, these numbers reflect an alarming disconnect.
Why Geopolitical Education Matters—Everywhere
Geopolitics is not just about borders or foreign policy. It is about understanding how power, culture, economics, and technology influence every aspect of our lives. When a design student learns about cultural diplomacy, they understand that a logo is not just branding—it is a statement of national identity. When a technology student grasps the concept of data sovereignty, they realise that code can be a tool of influence.
This disconnect between classrooms and the real world was dramatically highlighted recently when tensions escalated between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. As cross-border hostility intensified, schools in border districts of Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir were the first to shut down. Students stayed home, and classes were suspended until further notice, only resuming yesterday. In this tense environment, education was not just disrupted—it became a casualty of geopolitics.
Education is Political—Always Has Been
Vaishnav’s article brilliantly exposes the myth that education can be apolitical. When students are taught to code without understanding digital ethics, when engineers learn to build without considering sustainability, and when designers are trained without a sense of cultural context—they are being educated in a vacuum.
Today, social media algorithms can incite communal hatred, artificial intelligence can reflect racial bias, and a diplomatic tweet can tank a company’s stocks. Education that ignores these connections leaves students unequipped for the real world.
What can we do? We need to reimagine interdisciplinary education as not just an add-on but a foundational framework. Students must learn to navigate the world with an understanding of how global and local forces intersect. This isn’t just an academic preference—it’s a survival skill.
At ScooNews, we believe education is not just about memorising facts but about making sense of the world. Jaimine Vaishnav’s article is a timely reminder that the most important thing we can teach our students is how to think—and that means thinking beyond silos.
Read the full article by Jaimine Vaishnav here: [Breaking Barriers: The Case for Rethinking Geopolitical Education in India]
Education
John King’s Book ‘Teacher By Teacher’: A Global Tribute to the Transformative Power of Education
Published
4 weeks agoon
May 7, 2025
For John B. King Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Education, school wasn’t just a place—it was a lifeline. In his newly released memoir, Teacher By Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives, King traces his journey from a grief-stricken child in New York to the corridors of educational leadership in Washington, D.C. But while the book is rooted in the American educational experience, its messages about the impact of teachers resonate far beyond U.S. borders.
In an exclusive interview with Education Week’s Sam Mallon on May 5, 2025, King reflected on his memoir, the teachers who shaped his life, and the ongoing challenges educators face worldwide.
A Childhood Saved by Teachers
King’s story is a testament to the power of mentorship. Following the death of his mother and his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s, school became King’s sanctuary. “Teachers saved my life,” he shared, recalling how educators believed in him, nurtured his potential, and gave him hope even when the world outside seemed dark.
From those formative years, King went on to earn degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and Yale. His career as a teacher, school principal, education policymaker, and eventually, U.S. Secretary of Education became a journey of giving back. The memoir celebrates not only King’s personal resilience but the quiet heroism of teachers everywhere.

Former Secretary of U.S Education John King. Image Source- EducationWeek
While King’s book is anchored in American education, the messages it carries are universally relevant. Teachers worldwide are grappling with challenges—overcrowded classrooms, mental health issues among students, and ever-changing education policies. In his interview with Education Week, King highlighted how schools must be more than academic factories. They must be safe havens, places of healing, and hubs of inspiration.
King advocates for “trauma-informed practice”—an approach where teachers are equipped to understand and support students facing emotional challenges. This is a lesson that transcends borders, as schools globally encounter rising mental health concerns among students.
Teacher Evaluations and Policy Pressures
King’s time as U.S. Secretary of Education was marked by ambitious reforms—from implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to pushing for more rigorous teacher evaluation systems. But looking back, he acknowledges a key lesson: change cannot be forced without teacher buy-in.
“Teachers can’t be bombarded with reforms,” he explained. Change must be gradual, and educators must feel a sense of ownership over new policies.
King’s narrative is ultimately about hope. In his memoir, he shares how a single teacher’s encouragement can change a student’s life trajectory. He recalls how his father’s legacy as New York’s first Black deputy schools chief was kept alive by a former student who, years later, shared how impactful his father’s teaching was.
Teaching is more than a job—it is a calling. It is a force for social good, a platform for mentorship, and a means to nurture the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and dreamers. King’s Teacher By Teacher is a reminder that educators everywhere have the power to transform lives, often without even knowing it.
Though written from an American perspective, Teacher By Teacher is a love letter to educators everywhere. It is a call to support teachers, to understand the pressures they face, and to recognise the life-changing impact they can have on their students.
For a world that often takes teachers for granted, John King’s memoir is a reminder of the heroes who stand at the front of every classroom, ready to make a difference.
Excerpts referenced in this article were taken from John King's exclusive interview with Education Week on May 5, 2025, in Washington, conducted by Sam Mallon for Education Week.
Education
India 2050: Are We Preparing for the World’s Youngest Classroom?
Published
1 month agoon
May 2, 2025
By the year 2050, India is expected to be home to the largest population of children in the world—an estimated 350 million. That’s nearly the entire population of the United States, but all under the age of 18.
This projection, from UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2024 report, is more than just a statistic—it’s a call to action. As the demographic centre of the world’s children shifts firmly toward South Asia, and particularly India, the pressure on educational systems, teacher preparedness, and infrastructure is mounting. The big question is: Are we ready?
The Numbers Behind the Challenge
According to the report, while the global child population will remain relatively stable at 2.3 billion in the 2050s, regional distributions are changing dramatically. South Asia, including India, will continue to shoulder a significant share, even as fertility rates fall in other parts of the world.
India alone is projected to have:
-
350 million children under the age of 18 by 2050
-
14.9% of the global child population
-
A drop of 106 million children compared to early 2000s figures, but still the largest youth population worldwide
Despite this, a substantial proportion of these children will live in economically disadvantaged conditions. The report notes that the number of children in today’s low-income countries is expected to double, and 23% of the global child population will live in these regions by the 2050s—up from just 11% in the 2000s.
A System Under Strain
The implications for India’s schooling system are significant. Even today, the challenges are visible: overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and disparities in access to quality learning, especially in rural and marginalised communities. If this is the reality now, one can only imagine the stress an additional 350 million young minds will put on the system without robust intervention.
To meet this demographic surge, India must accelerate investments in:
-
School infrastructure: New schools, more classrooms, better facilities.
-
Teacher recruitment and training: Prioritising not just numbers, but competency-based teaching skills.
-
EdTech and blended learning: With thoughtful integration—not replacement—of classroom learning, digital tools can help bridge accessibility gaps.
-
Early childhood education: Foundational learning cannot be delayed. A larger young population needs stronger ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) implementation.
Curriculum That Looks Forward
With more children set to live in urban areas by 2050—three out of five, globally—the way education is designed will need to adapt to rapidly urbanising societies. This isn’t just about adding schools in cities. It’s about rethinking the curriculum for a generation that will grow up digitally native, climate-conscious, and globally connected.
Curriculum designers will need to move beyond rote learning and into 21st-century skills: critical thinking, emotional intelligence, environmental literacy, and AI readiness. It also means preparing children to live in an ageing society, where intergenerational support systems might look very different from today.
The Teachers of Tomorrow
The report highlights that dependency ratios—the number of dependents (children and elderly) per working-age adult—will remain high in regions like South Asia. This makes the role of teachers not just instructional, but transformational. Teachers will be frontline policymakers, social workers, and innovators all rolled into one.
Investing in teacher training today means investing in the emotional, cognitive, and social development of future generations. This also includes mental health support for both students and educators, as the pressures of this shift begin to take hold.
Why the World is Watching India
India’s role on the global education stage is about to become even more prominent. With the largest share of the world’s children, its policies, pilot programmes, public-private partnerships, and pedagogy will shape not only its own future—but serve as a model (or a warning) for the rest of the world.
UNICEF’s report urges governments to act now, not later, to shape the future. The youngest future belongs to India. Whether it’s a dividend or a disaster depends on the choices we make today.
Education
Caste Census: A New Chapter in Our Social Sciences Textbook?
Published
1 month agoon
May 1, 2025
For the first time since 1931, India is set to conduct a nationwide caste census—a move that has stirred political headlines and, perhaps, textbook margins too.
Announced officially by the Union Government this week, the caste enumeration will be included in the upcoming national census, marking a significant shift in how demographic data is collected and analysed. While states like Bihar have recently undertaken caste surveys, this is the first time in post-independence India that the Centre has agreed to officially gather detailed caste data, beyond the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) traditionally documented since 1951.
📚 So, what exactly is a caste census?
Think of it as a social snapshot. A caste census doesn’t just count—it maps. It records the distribution of caste groups across India and looks at their access to education, employment, housing, and welfare. The aim is to help policymakers understand who’s thriving, who’s still struggling, and where gaps remain.
🏫 Why should schools care?
Because this isn’t just data for government files—it’s a lesson in equity, diversity, and history.
The caste census is more than a bureaucratic exercise. It’s an opportunity for educators to unpack centuries of India’s complex social structure and help young minds make sense of why some policies exist in the first place. Reservation, affirmative action, social justice—these are not just chapter headings. They’re real-world mechanisms built on understanding where society stands.
For school students, this could be a way to understand that historical inequality doesn’t disappear just because it’s uncomfortable to discuss. Including caste enumeration as a case study in Social Science classes can foster honest, inclusive conversations about privilege, access, and opportunity.
We can rightly put it by saying, “Understanding caste isn’t about division, it’s about awareness.”
🏛️ From 1931 to 2025: What changed?
Under British rule, caste was recorded in every Census between 1881 and 1931. After independence, India stopped documenting caste broadly, focusing only on SCs and STs. The last comprehensive attempt was the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), but its data was never officially released due to questions around accuracy.
This latest announcement, therefore, is more than a policy decision—it’s a social reckoning.
And while political parties like the Congress have long demanded such a survey, arguing it’s crucial for equitable development, its inclusion now provides a teachable moment for the education system.
✏️ Making it student-friendly
Here’s how schools can make the caste census more accessible and meaningful to students:
-
Storytelling through data: Use infographics and classroom discussions to show how socio-economic progress varies across communities.
-
Project-based learning: Let students study their local area’s access to public services—schools, hospitals, ration shops—and link it back to the idea of representation.
-
Debate and dialogue: Create spaces where students can discuss reservations, inclusion, and diversity with sensitivity and empathy.
-
Historical comparisons: Encourage students to trace how the Census evolved over time and what it tells us about India’s changing priorities.
In an age of growing data literacy, this is a golden chance to show students how numbers can tell stories—and how those stories can shape policy and perception.
Because education isn’t just about teaching history—it’s about helping students read between the lines of it.
Education
Education Alone Won’t Feed Minds: Why Teachers Must Be Trained in Nutrition Too
Published
1 month agoon
April 21, 2025
“You cannot teach a hungry child,” said Donald Bundy, one of the world’s foremost school nutrition experts. Yet the gap between education and nutrition literacy is wider than we’d like to admit.
According to the 2025 Global Education Monitoring Report, only 60% of countries have any form of teacher training on nutrition within their national policies. And when it comes to actual implementation? That number drops even further in low-income regions. This silent gap in our education system is not just about school meals—it’s about a missing pedagogy that influences how students think, behave, and learn.
Why Teacher Training in Nutrition Matters
We often discuss nutrition as a public health issue. But nutrition is equally an educational concern—and teachers are at its frontline. Unfortunately, as the report points out, only 27% of global school meal programmes employ trained nutritionists to support meal design or delivery. In such scenarios, teachers unknowingly become the default guides on what’s “healthy”—without any professional preparation.
This is problematic on two fronts. First, without foundational training, teachers may unintentionally reinforce poor food habits or remain unequipped to link nutrition with classroom performance. Second, their lack of training undermines the full impact of initiatives like PM POSHAN (India’s flagship school meal scheme) or garden-based learning efforts.
As the GEM report underscores, “Learning about nutrition requires intentional integration of school meal delivery with nutrition education, careful assessment of nutritional intakes, and monitoring and research around shaping healthy eating habits.”
The Global Picture: Policy, But No Practice
In a policy mapping across 68 countries, nutrition education was often included in school curricula, but teacher training remained sporadic and weak. High-income countries reported only 58% coverage, and low-income countries—despite facing the brunt of malnutrition—had to depend on NGOs, development partners, or overburdened community workers to plug the gap.
Even where policies exist, operational challenges persist. For example, in India, while most rural schools under PM POSHAN serve mid-day meals, only 18% of schools reported daily on meal access due to low engagement with real-time tracking systems (Kapur et al., 2023). With such inconsistent reporting, training teachers to monitor, educate, and flag issues becomes all the more critical.
From Curriculum to Cafeteria: The Case for ‘Nutrition Pedagogy’
The report introduces a powerful idea: that food literacy must be embedded in formal, informal, and non-formal learning. This includes not only textbook-based curriculum but also experiential learning—like cooking classes, food label literacy, or classroom discussions around body image and media portrayal.
Yet, without empowered educators, these remain half-baked concepts.
Take this line from the report:
“Nutrition education has become a cornerstone of school health initiatives worldwide, designed to instil habits that endure for life.”
That longevity depends on consistent adult role models—especially teachers—who understand both the science of food and the psychology of student behaviour. It’s not just about knowing what to teach but how to teach it sensitively, especially during adolescence when issues like body image, peer pressure, and social media influence food choices deeply.
A Missed Opportunity in Pre-Service Education
In a rather concerning statistic, the report reveals that in 2022, only 14% of countries adequately covered the topic of infant and child nutrition in the pre-service curriculum for doctors, nurses, and midwives. If this is the case for healthcare professionals, it raises an important question—how many B.Ed or teacher training colleges meaningfully cover food, nutrition, and health in their pedagogy courses?
This is where reform is urgently needed. Nutrition training must be embedded into teacher education institutions, not offered as an afterthought in in-service workshops.
What Needs to Change?
The report outlines three major shifts that could address this blind spot:
-
Develop a structured nutrition module for pre-service teacher education.
-
Integrate nutrition literacy into school improvement plans and co-curricular activities.
-
Collaborate across departments—from health to agriculture—to support interdisciplinary teacher training.
Some countries are showing the way. Finland’s food education programme, for instance, includes school meals, nutrition classes, and teacher-led discussions on sustainability, right from primary to vocational levels. It’s time more countries, especially India, followed suit—not just in policy, but in practice.
The Bottom Line
To feed a child is to free their mind. But in schools today, we are expecting teachers to do this job without giving them the training they need. It’s akin to asking someone to teach coding without a computer.
As we march toward the goals of NEP 2020 and SDG 4, we must recognise that education and nutrition are not parallel pursuits—they are intertwined pathways. And it begins not in the cafeteria, but in the staffroom.
Newsletter

Beyond the Buzz: Investors Call for Grounded AI Innovation in Indian Classrooms

Education Ministry Launches National Drive for Healthier, Safer Schools

Government School Enrolment Drops Across States, Centre Flags ‘Disturbing Trend’

Over 10,000 Unrecognised Schools in Bihar, Jharkhand: Education Ministry Flags Violation of RTE Act

PadhAI Conclave Highlights Urgent Role of Artificial Intelligence in Indian Education

University of Liverpool to Open First International Campus in Bengaluru by 2026

Curriculum Controversy at Delhi University: Academic Voices Clash Over Syllabus Overhaul

CBSE Directs Schools to Map Mother Tongues, Pushes for Multilingual Classrooms in Foundational Years

Ministry of Education Launches Month-Long Nationwide Drive to Make Schools and Colleges Tobacco-Free

Banu Mushtaq’s International Booker Win Is a Wake-Up Call for Indian Schools to Reclaim Literature

Kerala Reimagines Schooling: Social Awareness Over Syllabi in Bold New Reforms

Mizoram Declared First Fully Literate State in India

Delhi Government Schools to Introduce ‘Kaushal Bodh’ Pre-Vocational Programme for Classes 6 to 8

Human (Soft) Skills: The Missing Piece in School Curriculums

CBSE’s ‘Sugar Boards’ Initiative: Tackling the Sweet Crisis in Indian Schools

India-Turkey Relations Sour: Indian Universities Suspend Academic Ties Over National Security Concerns

Geopolitics in Classrooms: Why India’s Students Need to Understand the World Beyond Borders

UK’s New Immigration Rules: What They Mean for Indian Students

Maharashtra Launches Statewide Staff Mapping Drive for Schools

Indian Students Flock to Singapore, Ireland, and Dubai for Higher Studies: 38% Surge Recorded

John King’s Book ‘Teacher By Teacher’: A Global Tribute to the Transformative Power of Education

Operation Sindoor and Operation Abhyaas: Navigating School Safety and Student Well-being Amid Rising Tensions

CUET-UG 2025 Likely to be Postponed, Fresh Dates Expected Soon

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025: Nominations Now Open for India’s Young Achievers

CBSE Finally Comes to Rancho’s School: Druk Padma Karpo Breaks a 24-Year Wait

Sudha Murty Advocates Mandatory Training and Exams for Teachers Every Three Years

Hello Kids Expands to 1,000 Centres, Aims for 2,000 by 2028

Nagaland Schools Launch ‘Adolescent Girls Club’ to Empower Young Girls Under Mission Shakti

“Be the Change in a Changing World”: Anita Karwal and Anju Chazot Reflect on NEP 2020

CBSE Warns Dummy School Students May Be Barred from Board Exams

CBSE’s ‘Sugar Boards’ Initiative: Tackling the Sweet Crisis in Indian Schools

Is Your School Following These Mandatory CBSE Committees?

Maharashtra to Regulate Pre-Primary Education with New Law Aligned to NEP 2020

Sunbeam Indiranagar Shines in Academics, Arts, and Sports, Cementing Its Legacy of Holistic Education

Rewriting Ambedkar: Why Students Must Know the Man Beyond the Constitution

China Embarks on Ambitious AI-Driven Education Reform to Build a ‘Strong Education Nation’ by 2035

‘Baalpan ki Kavita’ Initiative Launched to Restore Indian Rhymes for Young Learners

MAHAJYOTI’s Book Distribution Scheme to Empower 7,000 OBC Students Preparing for JEE/NEET & MHT-CET

India Bids Farewell to NEP Architect Dr K. Kasturirangan

CBSE Mandates 50-Hour Annual Training for Teachers, Declares STEM as 2025 Theme

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025: Nominations Now Open for India’s Young Achievers

CBSE Introduces Mandatory Bridge Course for Classes 6 to 12 in Chhattisgarh Under NEP 2020

NCERT Class 7 Textbooks Updated: Mughals Removed, Focus on Indian Ethos and Pilgrimage

Delhi Government Cracks Down on Dummy Schooling; Over 600 Schools Inspected, 10 Issued Notices

Stonehill International School Students Shine in Spectacular Performance of In the Heights

IIT Guwahati Developing VR Metaverse for PM SHRI Schools—But is the Metaverse Still the Future?

Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE): Sustainable Practices in CBSE Schools

Delhi Approves Landmark Bill to Regulate School Fees Across 1,677 Institutions

John King’s Book ‘Teacher By Teacher’: A Global Tribute to the Transformative Power of Education

Rajasthan Cabinet Approves Bill to Regulate Coaching Centres Amid Rising Student Suicides
SGEF2023 | Special Address by Rama Datt, Trustee, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Trust, Jaipur

ScooNews | After Movie | ScooNews Global Educators Fest 2023

Aftermovie | NIES2 UP Chapter | 21 Jan 2023

WEBINAR | Gamification in Education: How Digital Badges Can Boost Student Motivation and Engagement

ScooNews | WEBINAR| Importance of Physical Activity for Children at School | Plaeto

SCOONEWS | WEBINAR | WHY DIGITIZING YOUR SCHOOL IS A MUST | TEACHMINT

Keynote Address | Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar

Anurag Tripathi, Secretary, CBSE at SGEF2022

How schools can nurture every student’s genius

Aftermovie | SGEF2022 | Jaipur

Li Andersson | Minister of Education | Finland

Anurag Tripathi, Secretary, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) discusses NEP2020

ScooNews | Early Ed Asia 2019 | Aftermovie

#PodarECEconf : Pursuing quality ECE

#CBSE Class XII #Results #Highlights

The interesting story of India’s educational system | Adhitya Iyer

A young scientist’s quest for clean water

The Danger of Silence: Clint Smith

National Digital Library of India is an initiative by HRD Ministry

Remembering Kalpana Chawla on her birthday!

Message from Sadhguru for Students!

Message from Sadhguru for Students!

The Untapped Genius That Could Change Science for the Better

Eddy Zhong: How school makes kids less intelligent TEDxYouth@Beacon

#TEDxCanberra : What if every child had access to music education…
Trending
-
Education3 months ago
Sudha Murty Advocates Mandatory Training and Exams for Teachers Every Three Years
-
Education3 months ago
Hello Kids Expands to 1,000 Centres, Aims for 2,000 by 2028
-
Education3 months ago
Nagaland Schools Launch ‘Adolescent Girls Club’ to Empower Young Girls Under Mission Shakti
-
Education2 months ago
“Be the Change in a Changing World”: Anita Karwal and Anju Chazot Reflect on NEP 2020
-
News2 months ago
CBSE Warns Dummy School Students May Be Barred from Board Exams
-
Education2 weeks ago
CBSE’s ‘Sugar Boards’ Initiative: Tackling the Sweet Crisis in Indian Schools
-
Education2 months ago
Is Your School Following These Mandatory CBSE Committees?
-
Education1 month ago
Maharashtra to Regulate Pre-Primary Education with New Law Aligned to NEP 2020
-
Education3 months ago
Sunbeam Indiranagar Shines in Academics, Arts, and Sports, Cementing Its Legacy of Holistic Education
-
Education2 months ago
Rewriting Ambedkar: Why Students Must Know the Man Beyond the Constitution