Education
Turning Small Ideas into Big Wins
PARVATHY JAYAKRISHNAN explores the importance of teaching entrepreneurship in
schools and how to go about it.
"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
Walt Disney’s quote defines the true essence of what good entrepreneurs do—they don ’t just hold on to an idea, they get the ball rolling.
Our teachers are doing a fantastic job of training students to learn topics that are covered in their textbooks, guiding them morally and making them independent and self-sufficient. They are also often focused on preparing students for the future – to make them strong, confident and sometimes ready for jobs that are not even discovered yet! (It is true that technolo gy is taking over a number of jobs and we cannot predict the jobs that will be availa ble 10 years from now). We are living in a time when students will most likely use their skills to create their own employment. They may not use their skills to join a workforce necessarily. In this case, it is the risk-takers who have a better shot at success. This, in turn, implies that teaching entrepreneurship in schools is imperative and can have far-reaching results in encouraging students with creativity and encourage them to work hard towards a goal. Entrepreneurship education prepares students to identify and address challenges and opportunities.
However, the word “entrepreneurship” can be daunting for a school student. They would wonder how they would learn what entrepreneurship is considering they can barely pronounce the 16-letter word! What we need to teach them is that an entrepreneur is an entity which has the ability to find and act upon opportunities to translate inventions or technology into new products. An entr epreneur becomes successful when he combines skill and innovation. You have had that student in class who is great with technology and designing and creating logos and videos in exchange for money. Today, students own and run YouTube channels which earn them good money. Students often become entrepreneur s without even realizing it! When given the right knowledge and boost, they will be able to take it forward as they become adults.
Omkar Mantri, a grade 8 student at Vibgyor High school, Bangalore, has dropped science and chosen to learn only economics from class 9. He explains why teaching entrepreneurship in schools can be a big boon for students like him. “I would love to understand how an idea can be converted into a business plan. It will be great to get practical information, instead of the excessive amount of theory that we normally have to study. I would love to learn about rules/laws, business models and related subjects in school. It will give us an idea about the perils of getting into business and we can choose our electives accordingly. Also, entrepreneurship must be made an attractive and viable concept, so that students don't rush towards an engineering college or a job in an IT company.”
While the world around us is developing at a fast pace with technology and innovations, education in K-12 needs to move an extra mile to evolve accordingly. Education is the driving force behind e very country’s economy, directly or indirectly. Many schools in India have adapted to technology or are slowly making the change. They are encouraging students to work in groups to solve problems, they are encouraging online learning and they are even attempting to merge art with science to make learning more effective. However, even with all these new techniques, students often fail to perform at jobs because they lack knowledge in entrepreneurship. Thus, entrepreneurship, the capacity to not only start companies but also to think creatively and ambitiously, is very important to be included in the school curriculum.
“Entrepreneurship skills are necessary for the current generation of kids. They need to have negotiation skills right through the early years. They need to build thinking skills and design thinking is the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey. They also need to be risk-taking and they need to develop the ability to forecast. If students are taught these skills at the school level, they can be more planned and ready when they grow up. Most kids don't know that they have an entrepreneurial streak and this can be identified if it is taught in schools,” says Deepali Ghosh, mompreneur and mother to a 10-year old.
Entrepreneurship education empowers students with the skill to think outside the box and nurture unconventional talents and skills. It creates opportunities for all, ensures social justice and instills confidence in students. We often mistake entrepreneurship to be a skill to be imparted in undergrad or post graduation. Why wait till then? Entrepreneurship is a lifelong learning process – it can be taught from elementary school till they become adults. Introducing young kids to entrepreneurship develops their initiative and helps them to be more creative and self-confident in whatever they undertake and to act in a socially responsible way.
According to Dr. Prakash Sai L, Professor, Dept of Management Studies, IIT Madras, “Teaching entrepreneurship in schools is absolutely necessary. Already CBSE has a course called Business Studies in class 10 to introduce basic concepts of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is seen as a particular type of skill that will enable a student to start a firm and ensure business growth. Today, even our society is encouraging student entrepreneurs. We often see young children set up stalls in apartment complexes, trying to sell food. When society is encouraging students to develop entrepreneurial skills, schools need to back them up by giving them the knowledge.”
Entrepreneurship teaches students about money, investing, business strategies, loans, and creating budgets. At the same time, students can learn critical life skills such as problem-solving, brainstorming ideas, taking risks, facing failure and getting up again, setting goals, working together, and feeling comfortable to work individually.
Deepali recalls how she was amazed at her 10-year-old daughter’s idea to sell homemade watermelon juice to tired gym-goers at 10 am during her summer holidays. “She made the juice and sold it at a profit of almost 110 per cent! What she figured was the ability to judge that there is a buyer’s market and she figured the pricing on her own. She even used a USP ensuring that she used organic watermelon and brown sugar (keeping in mind that her target audience are gym goers),” she proudly remembers.
Government initiative
The Delhi AAP government took a step in the right direction by launching the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum Framework for government schools in February, this year. The Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum Framework was developed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had explained that the curriculum would invariably bring about a paradigm shift in the education system in the way students explore and learn and in the manner teachers facilitate and guide these exploratory processes. He also emphasised that an entrepreneurial mindset was required for all professionals to be successful in their career. Success stories of various professionals and public servants testify it.
It will be implemented in all Delhi government schools from classes 11 to 12 and will build awareness and knowledge of various aspects of entrepreneurship among the students. The curriculum is expected to inspire students through various entrepreneurial stories, case studies and many mindfulness activities and approaches. It focus – es on imparting the personality and character traits of successful entrepreneurs other than the business aspects of entrepreneurship. The curriculum is expected to be launched as a pilot project in 15-20 schools in April and will see a full-fledged launch in all government schools in July.
‘School teachers are the most important influencers’ …Says Pradeep Mishra, Founder, Leader to Creator, India's first organisation providing entrepreneurship training to children.
Why do you think entrepreneurship learning should be introduced in schools?
Our entrepreneurship for kids programme intends to make a remarkable impact on various fronts of developing nations like India. The world has migrated to a knowledge-based economy where innovation and entrepreneurial mindset will be a game changer. We cannot push the youth directly into jobs after their attain their degree. My conviction is that an entrepreneurial mindset can only be beautifully crafted at an early age. Children can be exposed to a controlled economic environment so that they understand the world around them and relate to it. They can recognise the problems of people as an opportunity and come up with innovative solutions which are scalable.
Our entrepreneurship programme also helps students unleash their creative potential in a big way. The entrepreneurship programme also focuses on life skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, time management, self awareness and personal brand image. These skills help them excel in any field of their choice. Kids have ideas but giving them a proper ground and skills to make it a functional model is what we do. Studies have shown that 80 per cent of our graduates are not even employable. This is the consequence when we have one size fits all approach in education.
How many schools do you cater to?
In 2017, Leader to Creator has been shortlisted by Economic Times Power of Ideas. I have per – sonally interacted with more than 5,000 students. We have worked with 11 campuses and we are operational in three states with expansion in Nepal.
Our in-house "Train the Trainers" programme is creating a pool of passionate trainers who can operate in different parts of the country. We have identified six more states touch points in Northern and central India, where we will be operational this year. We are also encouraging schools to nominate teachers who are interested in getting trained.
What was your inspiration to start Leader to Creator?
I have seen the pressure of placements and degree completion. I have witnessed the shattered aspirations of students who are not doing the things they wanted because their talent could not be converted into a business model. I worked with a few reputed brands in my career and there the problem was scarcity of talented people. So on one hand, students are looking for jobs but the industry says they are not good enough.
Economics shows that there are too many problems that need to be sorted out in our country. It means that there is a lot of work to be done. At the same time, we have a workforce that is looking for jobs. Do you notice the gap? Our mindset needs to be changed and the necessary skill set needs to be imparted. However, the moment we started teaching entrepreneurship in colleges, it only added on as another subject to pass. Students often asked me “Will this course help me get better placement offers?” Leader to Creator is bridging this gap.
How has the response been from schools?
Majority of schools are now interested in trying new things because they strive to be ahead of the times and they are committed to provide a better future for their students. There are schools where people still think that entrepreneurship is a business study meant for business schools only. We must sensitise education forums about entrepreneurship education as this is happening all across the globe. Awareness is the key.
Is it hard to convince the parents?
Fortunately, in our country, teachers are perceived as the best guide for a student's career and future. Parents trust them and kids listen to them. Leader to Creator is continuously working for awareness programmes in schools. We organise free seminars in schools during PTMs and other fests, but school teachers are the most important influencers.
Introducing entrepreneurship skills in classroom
You don’t even need to introduce the concept of entrepreneurship in a formal way and use business jargon that can seem complicated to your students. Multiple skills that aid entrepreneurship can be developed using activities in the classroom. Some skills that need to be de veloped include:
Communication skills: Communication is key for an entrepreneur and enhancing communication skills in students is something that teachers can work on in schools. Instead of standard class discussions, teachers can give students a chance to practice public speaking. Teachers can make this shift by introducing pop-up debates. With these activities, kids are positively pressurised to speak in front of an audience and they gradually develop the confidence to do it.
Brainstorm ideas: Teachers can set up a box in a class where students can put in their ideas. The box is a good way to encourage students to come forward with their ideas and to pitch them confidently in front of their class. Once all the ideas are in, there can be a brainstorming session where the entire class can discuss the viability of the idea and see if they can be implemented The brainstorming session can improve their critical thinking skill and problem-solving abilities. They can explain how their idea can bring about a change in society. Teach students to think about what’s positive or strong about their work and let them ponder on their weaknesses to find the changes needed to make their product more interesting.
Discuss solutions: Students often complain about facilities or rules that are implemented in the school. Teachers can encourage them to come up with solutions to these problems based on discussions rather than giving them space to complain. This can have positive outcomes. It can improve the relationships among students, improve their self-esteem and encourage problem-solving.
Discuss success stories: Encourage students to research on successful entrepreneurs and their methods and strategies and get them to discuss them in class. Each entrepreneur uses different skills and strategies to make their way to the top. For example, Oprah Winfrey relies on her oration skills and compassion while Steve Job’s quest for innovation and perfection made him reach the top. Such discussions also encourage students to find out what they could have done better to improve their skills.
Learning a business: Students can practice writing interview questions and conduct interviews with entrepreneurs. The information can then be compiled into a directory of the types of goods and services, locations, and hours of the businesses. Students can then discuss the location, advertisement and the products involved in the business.
Encourage imagination: Creativity dwells within imagination. Pass around common objects to students and encourage them to imagine the object in a different outlook. This will help students see the same object through a different perspective.
Organisations Supporting Student Entrepreneurship
In the USA, there are numerous organisations formed that support student entrepreneurs in various capacities.
• Dorm Room Fund: A student-run venture fund backed by First Round Capital
• Entre-Ed: Support for teachers and programme leaders
• The Future Project: Helps high schools provide entrepreneurship programmes
• Junior Achievement: Fostering work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills
• Kairos Society: Network for entrepreneurs under 25
• Lean LaunchPad: From Silicon Valley’s Steve Blank
• MIT Launch: High school entrepreneurship programs
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): Preparing young people for business
• National Student Leadership Conference: Conference supporting high school entrepreneurs
• One Stone Solution Lab: Organisations, foundations, businesses and start-ups can engage a team of One Stone students in design thinking a solution, business idea or product.
• Real World Scholars: Works with teachers who use entrepreneurship to engage students in core curriculum
• Roadtrip Nation: Roadtrip offers experiences, interviews and curriculum
In the UK:
• Shell LiveWIRE: Shell LiveWIRE aims to inspire young people to find solutions to energy and resource challenges facing today’s society.
• National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs – A membership charity organisation fostering student entrepreneurship with a focus on supporting the creation of enterprise societies in educational institutions in the UK.
• Santander Universities Enterprise Portal – The portal helps young entrepreneurs win funding for their startups, build their business knowledge and access networking opportunities.
• Tycoon In Schools – Tycoon in Schools gives upcoming entrepreneurs, aged 5-18, a start-up loan between £50 to £1000 to manage a business while at school or college.
In India:
Leader to Creator programme
Started by Pradeep Mishra, the Leader to Creator programme is India’s pioneer academy for entrepreneurship training in schools. Leader to Creator is a group of professional trainers who have scientifically designed curriculum, which is a blend of technical skills, soft skills and life skills to teach entrepreneurship to students. They use the latest technology to interact with participants. They add fun in learning by live projects, camps, smart classes and business games.
Mishra has designed a fun-filled 60- hour course on “Entrepreneurship for Kids”. The idea was recognised by the Economic Times Power of Ideas. The course is now offered in some of the most prominent schools in India.
Awards
Entrepreneurship awards are a good way of encouraging young entrepreneurs to come up with innovative ideas and put them to practice. However, there are not many such awards that encourage school students.
• The Global Student Entrepreneur Award (GSEA): Student entrepreneurs compete through regional competitions to win their shot at going head to head against the best student entrepreneurs in the world at the GSEA. Undergraduate and graduate college/university students who own and operate a business for at least six months are eligible to compete for the $20,000 cash prize.
• The Big Idea (Australia): Coordinated by The Big Issue, The Big Idea is a social enterprise planning competition. Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students of participating Australian universities, applicants are invited to develop a concept and business plan for a brand new social enterprise.
• Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition: The competition is designed for undergraduate, college or polytechnic students across the globe. The idea is that students can display their business skills on a global platform, which will allow them to gain seed funding.
Teaching entrepreneurship skills in school is not merely for helping a student identify his skills or to fulfill the ultimate goal of starting a firm. We need to provide teachers with the appropriate training to impart knowledge to students in a way that they can understand and be involved and interested in. The learning can provide life lessons like perseverance, money management, problem-solving and much more. The classes will enable teachers to identify potential entrepreneurs and give them the support they need to move ahead towards their goal.
Let’s not merely include it in our syllabi as yet another subject. Let’s adopt it in a way that it becomes a life-changing experience for our students, where they learn values and skills that they can use when they become successful adult entrepreneurs!
Education
OpenAI Academy Launches in India to Democratise AI Education for Students, Teachers, and Startups
In a landmark move to scale artificial intelligence education across India, OpenAI has officially launched its first international educational initiative—OpenAI Academy India—in partnership with the IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The initiative aims to equip a wide cross-section of learners with AI skills, from students and educators to civil servants, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders.
As part of the collaboration, OpenAI and the IndiaAI Mission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining shared goals under the “FutureSkills” pillar of the national AI strategy. The curriculum will initially be available in English and Hindi, with future plans to expand into regional languages to enhance accessibility and inclusivity.
The Academy will offer a hybrid model of digital and in-person learning, combining on-demand modules, webinars, expert-led workshops, and peer-based collaboration. The content will also be hosted on platforms such as the FutureSkills portal and the iGOT Karmayogi platform, enabling central and state government officials to upskill in emerging technologies.
One of the initiative’s most ambitious goals is to train one million teachers in the practical use of Generative AI tools in education. This is aligned with OpenAI’s broader mission to empower educators to integrate AI into classrooms meaningfully.
OpenAI will also host hackathons across seven Indian states, aiming to reach 25,000 students, and conduct workshops in six major cities. Winners of these hackathons will earn the chance to attend OpenAI Dev Day events abroad. In addition, 50 startups or fellows selected by the IndiaAI Mission will receive up to $100,000 in API credits to support their AI-based innovation projects.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called the initiative a significant leap forward in democratising access to cutting-edge technology. “This partnership makes the latest AI tools available to India’s startup ecosystem and government workforce alike,” he noted, adding that it will accelerate local innovation and adoption.
Jason Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer of OpenAI, praised India’s growing influence in the global AI landscape. “India is one of the most dynamic countries for AI development. We’re proud to launch OpenAI Academy India to help more people gain confidence and skills to use AI meaningfully,” he said.
The platform will host a free Knowledge Hub offering a variety of resources—video tutorials, virtual events, hands-on training modules, and community forums—designed to make AI literacy engaging and practical.
With inputs from PTI
It’s June 5. There’s a poster-making competition happening in the library. “Say No to Plastic,” one child writes, her glitter pen catching the sunlight. In the background, a teacher sips from a plastic bottle of mineral water. On the ground — a single dustbin, filled with half-eaten sandwiches, the plastic wrappers they came in, and the poster that didn’t win.
Welcome to World Environment Day. The annual ritual of colouring inside the lines of climate awareness, only to throw the sketch away at 3:00 p.m.
And nowhere is this performance of eco-consciousness more apparent than in the average Environmental Studies (EVS) class. A subject that, in theory, is about the environment. In practice, it is about completing the syllabus before the assessments begin.
EVS is full of the right words: sustainability, waste segregation, reduce-reuse-recycle. It teaches children the parts of a plant, but not how to grow one. It tells them about carbon footprints, but not about the quiet pride of switching off a fan when they leave a room.
It is, in short, a subject that ends at the bell. Let’s pause and ask: how many schools actually segregate their waste? How many have separate bins for wet and dry garbage — not just during inspection week or annual day, but on a random Tuesday in August?
Most schools don’t have a waste problem. They have a waste denial problem.
Because admitting there’s a problem would mean someone has to do something about it. And doing something is messy. It requires time, training, tantrums. It requires telling people they can’t use fifteen thermocol plates for a two-hour workshop. It requires building a system where children see that the habits they are being asked to adopt are not just lesson objectives, but lifestyle choices being modelled by the adults around them.
Right now, most EVS classes are like that school function where the Chief Guest arrives in a diesel SUV to plant a sapling. Ceremonial. Shallow. Slightly offensive.
But here’s the good news: children get it. Better than we think. They’re not too young to understand why the cafeteria needs to stop using plastic spoons. They don’t need a unit on climate change to know that the AC doesn’t have to be set to freezing for learning to happen.
They just need one thing: to see the grown-ups walking the talk.
Start small. Set up separate bins — label them, colour-code them, talk about them. Let kids bring waste from home and run a sorting drive. Make a habit of auditing your school’s paper usage. Assign class monitors for turning off switches. Let kids design posters that don’t end up in the bin — or better yet, design the bins themselves. And while you’re at it, stop calling it an EVS period.
Call it the lab of life.
If you really want children to learn how to care for the world, don’t just teach them the names of forests. Teach them how to keep their classrooms clean. Don’t just mention Greta Thunberg in a chapter. Ask what they would skip school for. Don’t say “reduce-reuse-recycle” like it’s a rhyme. Say it like it’s a revolution.
And show them the bin.
Despite India’s near-universal school enrolment at the primary level, the latest UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024–25 paints a sobering picture of foundational learning and systemic leadership gaps in Indian education.
According to the report, over 95% of children in India are enrolled in primary school, yet basic learning outcomes remain dismal. ASER 2023 found that only 43% of Class 3 students could read a Class 2-level text, underscoring a national learning crisis.
While India boasts a 60% female workforce in elementary education, the leadership landscape tells a different story. Only 13% of vice-chancellors in central universities were women as of 2022, and formal principal training is absent in many Indian states despite NEP 2020’s mandate of 50 hours of annual professional development for school leaders.
This gender leadership gap reflects a global trend, with only 87 boys per 100 girls achieving minimum reading proficiency, and in middle-income nations like India, the number drops to 72 boys per 100 girls. The pandemic also reversed pre-COVID gains in gender parity for maths, with girls now underperforming in countries like Brazil, the UK, and Italy.
The GEM report also highlights bright spots. India’s policy commitment through NEP 2020 and innovative peer-mentorship pilots—like Delhi’s middle leadership model—demonstrate the potential of decentralised leadership to foster trust, collaboration, and improved school culture.
Global evidence cited by UNESCO shows that female-led schools in parts of Africa resulted in one full additional year of learning gain, proving that gender-inclusive leadership can enhance academic performance.
However, implementation remains inconsistent. Many leadership positions in India still lack transparent selection and promotion processes, and states fall short in meeting training targets. The digital divide, especially post-pandemic, has further deepened inequities, hitting girls in under-resourced regions the hardest.
What India Needs Next:
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Institutionalise mandatory leadership certifications.
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Accelerate women’s inclusion in senior roles.
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Shift focus from enrolment to outcome-driven learning metrics.
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Embed leadership training into teacher education.
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Scale up local mentorship models proven to work.
The UNESCO report is a reminder that enrolment alone cannot guarantee education quality. Bridging the gap between policy intent and on-ground implementation is critical if India is to transform its education system into one that is equitable, inclusive, and future-ready.
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
The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, observed World No Tobacco Day on 31st May 2025 with a national workshop held at Rang Bhawan, Akashvani Bhawan. Inaugurated by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, DoSEL, the event convened key stakeholders from the Ministries of Health, Home Affairs, NCERT, CBSE, UNODC, and State representatives, alongside students, civil society members, and domain experts.
During the workshop, Kumar launched the Nationwide School Challenge on Tobacco Awareness on the MyGov platform, set to begin on 10th June 2025. Aimed at student engagement, the initiative encourages schools across India to lead awareness campaigns. Participants also took the No-Tobacco Pledge, underscoring the shared responsibility of educators and communities in protecting students from tobacco exposure.
Kumar highlighted the alarming influence of tobacco advertising on youth and emphasised the importance of proactive involvement from School Management Committees (SMCs), parents, and local bodies to create tobacco-free campuses. Additional Secretary Anandrao V. Patil reinforced this message in his keynote, focusing on student health, well-being, and preventive education.
Other key speakers included CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh, who spoke on the integration of health and wellness modules in schools, and Economic Advisor A. Srija, who stressed inter-sectoral collaboration for effective implementation of Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Guidelines.
Technical sessions covered mental health (Manodarpan), life skills education (Navchetna), the School Health Programme, and digital monitoring of ToFEI compliance. Experts from NCERT, CBSE, UNODC, and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare contributed insights on embedding wellness in school ecosystems.
State nodal officers from Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry presented best practices—from dental health drives to creative student engagement tools like comics and animation. Efforts to contextualise ToFEI manuals in regional languages were also shared.
The workshop concluded with a call for consistent monitoring, awareness campaigns, and holistic health education to build tobacco-free, safe learning environments.
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
Over 10,000 Unrecognised Schools in Bihar, Jharkhand: Education Ministry Flags Violation of RTE Act
In a startling revelation, the Ministry of Education has flagged that over 10,000 unrecognised schools are operating in Bihar and Jharkhand, enrolling more than 1.6 million students and employing over 88,000 teachers—despite being in violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
Jharkhand has the highest number of unrecognised schools in India, with 5,879 such institutions enrolling over 8.3 lakh students and staffed by more than 46,000 teachers. Bihar follows with 4,915 unrecognised schools, catering to over 7.7 lakh students and 42,000 teachers.
These figures emerged during the 2025-26 Project Approval Board (PAB) meetings under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, held earlier this year. The Ministry stated that the existence of these schools goes against Section 19 of the RTE Act, which mandates that all pre-existing schools meet prescribed norms within three years of the Act’s implementation. Failure to comply should lead to withdrawal of recognition and closure of the institutions.
The Ministry has directed both states to take appropriate action, either by recognising these schools through proper channels or by ensuring their closure in accordance with legal norms. Notably, Jharkhand’s education department has formed district-level recognition committees and claims that many of these schools began operations before the RTE Act came into effect.
Additionally, the Ministry raised concerns over discrepancies in data regarding Out-of-School Children (OoSC). For 2023–24, Jharkhand reported 37,409 OoSC on the PRABANDH portal, whereas the NSSO survey for 2022–23 recorded 1,07,639 ‘never enrolled’ children aged 6–14. In Bihar, the contrast was even more stark: 33,285 OoSC on PRABANDH versus 6.27 lakh ‘never enrolled’ according to NSSO.
To address this gap, the Ministry has advised strict data monitoring and called for special enrolment drives, with full support from School Management Committees (SMCs), to bring every child back into the education system.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan delivered the valedictory address at the PadhAI: Conclave on AI in Education, held in New Delhi and organised by the Centre of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG). The two-day conclave brought together senior policymakers, educationists, and technology experts to discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence in reshaping India’s education landscape.
In his address, Pradhan emphasised that artificial intelligence is not merely a technological tool, but a transformative force and a catalyst for innovation in education. “AI is a bridge between empathy and technology,” he said, underlining the need for India’s human intelligence to take the lead in the global AI revolution.
The Minister highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the government to promote AI in education, including the establishment of Centres of Excellence in AI and plans to promote AI integration in Indian languages. He stressed that leveraging AI to foster critical thinking in classrooms was no longer optional but essential, marking a transition from “chalkboards to chipsets.”
He also called upon academicians and technologists to collaborate on policy suggestions that would enable India to responsibly and effectively integrate AI in school and higher education systems.
The conclave featured a series of panel discussions and keynote addresses exploring how AI is transforming classroom teaching, expanding learning beyond the four walls, and the structural challenges that need to be addressed for effective implementation.
Notable speakers included Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & IT; Ashish Sood, Minister for Education and Higher Education, Delhi; Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education and Chairperson, UGC; Abhishek Singh, CEO, IndiaAI Mission; Pankaj Arora, Chairperson, NCTE; Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, NETF; Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi; Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder, Info Edge; and Rashmi Das, Chairperson, Higashi Autism School.
The event concluded with a call for increased collaboration between the public and private sectors to harness AI for inclusive and accessible education.
In a significant development for India’s higher education sector, the University of Liverpool—one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious academic institutions and a member of the Russell Group—has announced plans to establish its first international campus in Bengaluru. The university aims to commence operations by 2026.
This marks the first time a Russell Group university, often likened to the Ivy League for UK higher education, will set up a physical campus in India. Known for its world-class research and academic rigour, the University of Liverpool was founded in 1881 and has produced nine Nobel laureates. Its entry into the Indian education landscape is expected to bolster the globalisation of Indian higher education and widen access to top-tier international programmes.
Initially, the Bengaluru campus will offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences, and Game Design—making it the first UK university to offer these programmes from within India. The range of disciplines is expected to expand over time.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hailed the development as a “landmark moment” in the state’s educational journey. “For many years, our brightest minds left the country to study abroad. Today, a top global university is choosing to come here,” he said, adding that the government would ensure full support through policy and infrastructure.
In a move to bridge industry and academia, the university also signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based IT major Wipro to collaborate on research, innovation, and skill-building programmes.
Delhi University’s Executive Council (EC) has approved sweeping curriculum revisions that have sparked sharp protests from faculty members, igniting a fresh debate over academic freedom, ideological influence, and the future of higher education in India. The changes, ratified during the EC’s 1,275th meeting, affect multiple departments including Psychology, Sociology, and English, and introduce new programmes in journalism and nuclear medicine.
Among the most contentious shifts is the removal of conflict-based case studies from the Psychology of Peace paper. Case references to Kashmir, Palestine, India-Pakistan relations, and the Northeast have been replaced with conflict-resolution examples drawn from Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita. Similarly, a Sociology paper has dropped foundational thinkers like Karl Marx and Thomas Robert Malthus, along with key sections such as the Sociology of Food and the critical lens on the Sociology of Law.
Faculty members are sounding the alarm. As per a story in Business Standard, EC member and Associate Professor at Kirori Mal College, Rudrashish Chakraborty, called the changes “a complete disregard for disciplinary expertise” and warned they could severely damage DU’s global academic standing.
At the heart of the backlash is a deeper concern about ideological overreach in curriculum design. Critics say the move replaces rigorous, research-based frameworks with selectively religious narratives, undermining the pluralism that once defined Indian academia.
Why These Topics Were in the Curriculum in the First Place
Incorporating geopolitical issues like Kashmir and Palestine in social science syllabi wasn’t about courting controversy—it was about helping students understand conflict, diplomacy, and peace-building through lived realities. Scholars like Marx and Malthus, often labelled as ideologues, contributed frameworks that shaped global discourse on inequality, population, labour, and social justice. To erase them from academic memory is not just selective—it’s intellectually dishonest.
Their inclusion wasn’t about promoting one ideology over another but about exposing students to a spectrum of thought. If academic institutions stop encouraging intellectual plurality, they risk becoming echo chambers that simply mirror prevailing politics.
What Could Have Been Done Differently
If the aim was truly to Indianise or decolonise the curriculum—as has been cited in many recent reforms—it could have been done with scholarly rigour. Including Indian thinkers alongside global ones, offering critical engagement rather than replacement, and developing interdisciplinary modules that draw on Indian social realities would have strengthened rather than diluted the curriculum.
A meaningful curriculum reform should be inclusive, consultative, and pedagogically sound. Instead, these changes appear abrupt and top-down, with several faculty members alleging they were not adequately consulted. As one member remarked, “Modernisation cannot come at the cost of academic autonomy.”
The counter to a whitewashed curriculum should not be to do the exact opposite. Figures like Karl Marx are not just ideologists; their legacies extend beyond nation-states. They presented global ideas that remain relevant to Indian society, especially in an age grappling with inequality and labour rights.
And religion—while an important part of many societies—must never dominate education policy. When one faith is elevated in academic materials meant for students of all backgrounds, it chips away at the secular fabric of our democracy.
Replacing complex geopolitical issues with religious scripture is not only pedagogically flawed—it’s, frankly, a dangerous precedent.
New Programmes and Policy Decisions
Beyond the curriculum overhaul, DU has also announced the launch of a two-year M.A. in Journalism in both Hindi and English, and a BSc in Nuclear Medicine Technology, to be offered at the Army Hospital (R&R) for Armed Forces Medical Services personnel. The EC also introduced a new policy for determining teacher seniority, with age taking precedence over API scores when qualifications are equal.
A committee has been constituted to assess the implications of a DoPT circular mandating periodic review of employees aged 50 and above—raising concerns about forced retirement policies within the university system.
As the NEP rollout moves ahead, universities like DU need to walk the path wisely. Reforms should fuel learning, not push a story. Education isn’t meant to box students into ideologies—it’s meant to open minds, spark debate, and shape citizens who can think for themselves. Our classrooms should dig deeper, not go narrow. We can’t afford to swap knowledge for one-sided thinking.
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