Knowledge
Time is of essence and advancement of technology is only enhancing systems in education
ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning is a software program designed for small or large businesses to help expedite their management processes.

ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning is a software program designed for small or large businesses to help expedite their management processes. For a while now we have been living and breathing technology. Computers have made a ubiquitous presence around us. The world of education is also aware of the importance and advantages of information and communication technology, not only for education and research purposes but for their other functions such as administration, organisational, accounting, etc. The need to improve these operations and ease management processes has led to the increasing popularity of ERP solutions in educational industries.
Out with the old, in with the new
With the introduction of ERP an educational institute can ensure that it is operating at its maximum potential. It is all about time and efficiency today. Introducing technology to manage the operations of an institute where everything is available at a click of a button makes it way simpler than some of the traditional methods that were being used. Institutes had books that were meticulously managed for its various operations such as managing their finances but with ERPs, managing funds and tracking those into reports has never been easier.
“The Education system has witnessed a paradigm shift over the last decade especially with a lot of innovation inside and outside the class room. The effort is to produce maximum output with the minimum input. And technology is the keyword for that. We, as an eco-friendly school, emphasize on the least usage of paper. And it has become possible only with the application of communication technology such as email, Drop box, Whatsapp, bulk SMS, CCTV, etc. which saves time as well as energy. Technology has one more important role which is data security. All the school records can be well secured and saved with usage of proper software and can be retrieved easily anytime. As an administrator, I believe that usage of technology in the 21st century is not an option but a priority,” says Mrs. Madhumita Roy Chowdhury, Dean, Prudence International School, Panvel.
Perks of an ERP system in education
The number one benefit of implementing an ERP system is that it is cost effective. Basic management of a school/ college requires man power. Admission processes to fee collection, if done online, saves a huge bundle for the institute, which can then be put to use for other purposes.
Data of the institute can be managed effectively and efficiently without any fuss and can be customised to fit anyway; what’s more, it is made available at any time with just a click of a mouse. This also ensures that the data that is being stored is safe and secure from prying eyes with the system tending to be a lot better than storing physical books containing sensitive information on shelves.
Institutes provide all the users with a unique login ID and password to access this facility. At any time, parents can seamlessly track all the information about their kids’ progress report cards, registration fees, homework, internal assessment, health details, sports and extracurricular activities and more.
Other than a few technical glitches or minor human errors while filling up a form or information online, ERPs are way more precise and can be easily tracked and managed rather than having huge manpower that can create more mistakes. These systems are automated and, in many cases, pick up errors. It allows for a quicker management process and helps to focus more on education.
Homework, attendance, parent-teacher interaction, security management, leave/ attendance management are also some of the processes that can be taken care of easily by installing ERP systems in schools/ colleges.
How educational institutions use ERP?
India is catching up to the digitization frenzy. Many well-known schools and colleges are implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software applications to reduce the management work of the institution. Another important feature of this application is that it brings students, parents, faculty members and management authorities on a familiar platform to discuss various issues of the institution.
Speaking heads of educational institutes as to what impact ERP has had on implementation, this is what some of them had to say:
Dr Jagpreet Singh, Principal, The Punjab Public School, Nabha
“We have recently tied up with a company called Detailed Assessment for continuous assessment of a child online. It enables a child to learn the art of taking an online exam. For school management program, we have taken help from Cloud 9, in order to facilitate management and administrative issues.”
Dr. Rajasab, A.H. Vice Chancellor, Tumkur University
“Manual administration consumes a lot of time of the teachers as well as the administrator. Adopting new technology is the need of the hour. Some of what can be adopted in schools, colleges and universities are: Teaching pedagogy, integrating manual teaching with internet technology, audio visuals, practical experiments, virtual class rooms, continuous assessments instead of only term end exams, attendance monitoring system, maintenance of student records, fee payment, online employment opportunities, connecting students with teachers/ professors abroad, campus placements, arranging lectures on life skills, morality, confidence to face difficulties, distance learning and outdoor camps/ study tours abroad.”
Brig. S.K. Sharma (Retd.), Pro Vice Chancellor, Northcap University, Gurgaon
“Adopting the ERP System helped make our university management efficient. It has helped the university improve the operations and make them manageable. The main advantages ERP provides are improved information access for planning and managing the university and improved services for faculty, students and other employees, resulting in low business risk, improved efficiency and less paper work.”
Dr Niyati Chitkara, Principal, Chitkara International School, Chandigarh
“With the help of technology we have been able to run an online school inside a school! In classrooms, we take the help of technology in providing personalized learning. Our students undergo a variety of courses through MOOCs. They are given various assignments throughout the session, but it is left to them how they want to undertake them. One may give a video presentation, one may give a live project or it could be in the form of a mind map/ Flowchart. Technology has assisted us in giving freedom to the learner to choose the way he/she wishes to learn.
“We extensively use technologies like ERP system, Google Classrooms, Google Earth, Edmodo, Skype Sessions, TED Talks, Webinars and iTunesU in our school on a day to day basis. We have witnessed increased levels of participation and interest shown by the students in the learning processes.”
Taruna Kapoor, Headmistress, Allenhouse Public School, Ghaziabad
“Our school is technology oriented and has a customized ERP which has been adapted to make the school management easier. There are many tasks which the institution is completing in an easier and paperless manner. These include circulars to the students, attendance of the staff and students, website maintenance, marking schemes, managing mark registers, declaration of results, data management, fees collection, library management, management of student records, staff data, staff salary, sending assignments and homework, keeping a track of students’ progress record, data management in all the departments and day to day interactions with individual parents.”
Dr Vidya Shetty Director-Higher Education, Presidency Group of Institutions
“It is important that educational institutions migrate to the Rep which is more of a spine to a growing institution. With stakeholders growing a lot more involved in schools, seamless transfer of information across stakeholders and society, information at the tip of the educator's table is a must. Analytics and student support systems go faster and are a lot more accurate with ERP.”
Sudha Gupta, Chairperson, Presidium
“We have the ERP Initiative to help us with school management. The project is an online system to facilitate storage and access of information across our 108 branches (100 preschools and 8 K12 schools). It has been developed keeping in view the problems faced by multi-branch schools, where each branch is executing the processes as perceived by them and not as required by the head office. Optimum output can be reached only when all the branches are working as per set standards. This can be achieved by ensuring that all information reaches the stakeholders and is available to them during the entire course of the execution of a task, and is safely stored for the future.
“In case there is a change of sequence of tasks decided upon by higher policies and processes related to business, it has to be ensured that only updated and relevant information is available to down lines so that there is no confusion. The project covers HR, curriculum, events, administration, parent delight, and calendars. It includes the what, when, who (KRAs), and how (execution plan) of every task.”
Saadhana Malik, Principal, Bodhitaru International School, Greater Noida
“We have adopted technology from day one and all our data concerning data management, fees collection, timetable management, attendance management of both staff and students and miscellaneous administration work is digitalised. We have adopted the latest techniques of e-learning in our classrooms too.”
Karan Garg, CEO, IFW Techno Creations Pvt Ltd gave examples of the types of software available and how they work.
“Browser or web based school software solutions which can run on Cloud Model ie. internet are easy to implement and use. SchoolSAAS.com is an integrated cloud-based transaction platform for schools which comes with modules like student admission management, timetable management, library management, attendance management, employee hr payroll salary management, school exam mark sheets cce system and results management, fees & accounts management, homework assignment management etc. SchoolSAAS.com also provides advanced modules like online examination, e-library, stock/store tuck shop management etc. The software provides separate login facility by giving online student login, employee staff login, parent login and school administrator login. These logins can also be accessed through your personalized SchoolSAAS mobile app.
SchoolSAAS.com is by far the top solution in the market with best quality and fastest implementation guarantee. It also provides complete integration with banks and payment gateways for fee collection, mobile bulk SMS, email, bio-metric attendance machines and even provide mobile apps for schools integrated with SchoolSAAS.com. SchoolSAAS.com is developed on the concepts of an ERP (Enterprise Resource Package) model and covers each and every department of the school. It covers the systems followed by CBSE, RBSE, ICSE, HBSE and all other boards of education in all states of India. At present is has a strong presence in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh etc. SchoolSAAS.com is a venture of No. 1 ICT Solutions Company of India, IFW Techno Creations Pvt Ltd. The company has experience and expertise of more than 12 years in elementary to higher education sector in India.
An example of ERP presence in the education industry in India was when she was hit overnight with demonetisation. The need for going cashless became of utmost importance for the day to day running of people’s lives. Manisha Thakur a 30-year-old MBA in marketing and a certified techie from BITS Mesra, 31-year-old Viral Dedhiya, an electronics engineer from Shah & Anchor Mumbai and 32-year-old Mayur Jain, a Mumbai-based CA created OnFees an ERP which allowed parents make fee payments to various schools/ institutes online. Most institutes up until this point collected their fees in cash.
OnFees tied up with multiple educational institutes and learning centres in order to facilitate fee collection for them and payment for their students. The platform also allowed students to apply for admission to these institutions.
“This is like a marketplace aggregation model, where we are trying to solve multiple problems for various stakeholders,” says Manisha.
Institutes could take the digital route for collecting fees in less than two days. “They could also collect cash/ DD from the backend and still have a daily consolidated report without any manual hassle,” explains Viral.
Within two months of going live, 35 institutes got on board, including big names like Sandesh College, Nirmala Niketan, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, and YMT College, and over 70,000 registered students for fee payment.
They recently raised Rs.2.5 crore in growth capital from some HNIs to capture market share in Mumbai, at a Rs.10-crore valuation. Looking beyond Mumbai, the trio will take on other major cities by August this year.
Once ERPs are in place, the institute provides all the users with a unique login ID and password to access facility. Parents can track all the information about their kids’ progress report cards, registration fees, homework, internal assessment, health details, sports and extracurricular activities. All this information can be seamlessly accessed by the parents any time. Most of the software modules installed in the applications are user friendly and interrelated to other modules. School and College management ERP Software applications have become very popular in society. Most parents inquire about these facilities prior to the admission of kids to their schools.
ERP vendors are consistently evolving to become more powerful, more affordable, and less complex.
Cloud-based ERP systems are now taking over the traditional methods of managing data and processes because of its various advantages. A cloud-based ERP solution provides enhanced data storage capacity, security and control. It also gives real-time access from anywhere and helps in quick, yet well-informed decision making. With this cloud-based solution, the institutions do not have to make expensive upfront investments in IT hardware and servers, nor worry about dedicating significant personnel resources to managing it. They are usually fast and easy to install compared to on-site deployments. Maintenance is much easier since the cloud-based ERP provider is responsible for keeping the technology up-to-date. Most importantly, with cloud technology, product enhancements are painless, and customizations and integrations automatically update with system upgrades which assures that the business is running with the most advanced capabilities.
There is a variety of school software in the market, use of which helps schools manage day to day running smoothly.
Valai School is one of the fastest growing school management software by The Valai Pvt Ltd, headquartered in Bengaluru. Catering to CBSE, ICSE, international curricula and state board schools across India, it is a very versatile cloud based online application. This cost effective solution is spreading rapidly even among the rural schools in India as well as in the urban region.
Providers of ERPs also talk about how ERP in education is changing the old and tested ways, which were done manually and were time consuming. They have ushered in a new faster and more precise method. Here is what some of them had to say:
Gaurav Mundra, Chief Executive Officer, EduCommerce Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
“If we talk about school administration, there are three major categories of school software:
Traditional ERP systems – These are large enterprise applications requiring dedicated hardware, software licenses, team and are high on CAPEX and OPEX. But they get a lot of stuff done. They are usually suitable for managing internal workflows of large schools. (Eg. Fedena)
Simple apps – These are communication only software for sending messages to parents/students; suitable only for messaging and need other software for school to manage all functions (Eg. Teno)
Hybrid solutions – These software offer the best of both worlds where you get all workflow management facilities (attendance, fees, exam, time-table etc.) in addition to omni-channel multi-media communication (fees reminders, messages, circulars, home-work, images etc.) (Eg. Myly); appropriate for all levels of schools as they have low CAPEX and OPEX.”
Mr. Shufyan Ghani Khan, CEO, Student Tonic
“We cannot deny the fact, that technology is the utmost need of today’s world and automation in every sector has not only increased efficiency and saved time but has undoubtedly made things very simple and transparent to all its stakeholders. Be it hotel industry to pharma industry, E-commerce to E-learning, ticket booking to transportation or banking to ATM service… technology is everywhere and in everybody’s life.
Some advantages of an ERP based school using SchoolTonic are:
Online Application, Student Admission, Student Information, Student Promotion, Daily/Periodic Attendance, Fee Allocation & Collection, Examination Configuration to Marksheet Creation, Dynamic Marksheet Builder, Timetable, Syllabus Management, School Diary, Reports, Mobile Application, Smart SMS.
Apart from the above, School ERP provides many other facilities, such as library, payroll, inventory, hostel, accounting, transportation, and front desk management. This gives us a clear idea that school management software is a boon for schools.”
The Future
Research firm Gartner Inc. estimates that the enterprise application spending in India (which includes spending on ERP) will grow from $2.04 billion in 2016 to $2.39 billion in 2017, an increase of about 17%.
ERP vendors are consistently evolving to become more powerful, more affordable, and less complex. Mega-vendors such as Oracle and SAP have a major share of the ERP market, but newer companies are nudging their way into the space with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) options that are changing the game.
As more devices and products become connected to the internet, more data can be automatically funnelled into the ERP system. This gives better supervision over things and harnessing this data could prove beneficial not just in the field of education but across all industries.
This article was originally published in the June 2017 issue of ScooNews magazine. Subscribe to ScooNews Magazine today to have more such stories delivered to your desk every month.
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
Student Suicides Account for 7.6% of All Cases in India: What the Govt Is Doing Next

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

We often talk about how AI is transforming education, but are we talking enough about what it’s quietly taking away?
CREATIVITY
As Sir Ken Robinson often reminded us,“Creativity is as important as literacy.”
And yet, in a system so focused on marks, rubrics, and outcomes,creativity is often the first thing we sacrifice.
Bloom’s Taxonomy places Creating right at the top,but in many classrooms today, it feels like AI has reached that level faster than our students have.While children are still figuring out sentence structure and grammar, AI is already generating poems, paintings, and polished presentations with a single click.
Which brings us to a deeply uncomfortable question:
What happens when AI starts to “create”?
And more importantly—what happens when our students stop?
Today’s AI isn’t truly creative.It mimics. It reuses. It draws from patterns and reproduces what’s already been done.And if we don’t pause now to protect what’s uniquely human,we risk raising a generation of students who know how to use tools,but don’t know how to think.
Everything’s Starting to Look the Same
I’ve seen it. You’ve probably seen it too.
Creative writing tasks that sound strangely uniform.Artwork that feels formulaic.Presentations that are polished, yes, but empty.AI has democratised access to intelligence,but in doing so, it has started to flatten creativity.We’re now at a point where students are outsourcing not just answers,but imagination.
But true creativity cannot be prompted.It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s born out of thinking, feeling, failing, and trying again. It lives in how we interpret the world. In how we care. In how we connect.
How Can We Bring Creativity Back?
We need to bring back the building blocks of creativity.
READ
Let students read more deeply,not just skim or summarise.Let them feel what’s in the pages, get lost in ideas, debate their favourite character in a book or movie, and form their own emotional connections.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Let’s re-focus on learning through doing,projects, fieldwork, play, nature, making mistakes, working with hands, collaborating, and reflecting.It’s in these non-linear, real-world experiences that creativity quietly blooms.
FINDING THE PURPOSE
We need to pause and ask: What is this child truly passionate about?
It could be animals, gardening, football, art—anything that sparks joy and curiosity.
Once we discover that passion, we can connect learning to it.
Let’s not just ask what they’re reading, but why they’re reading it.
What inspires them? How can that interest help them solve real-world problems?
That’s when learning becomes meaningful,and creativity starts to flow with purpose.
Because by the time they grow up,the world won’t just need people who can use AI – It will need people who can imagine what AI cannot.
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