My Expressions

Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya, Principal, Jasudben ML, Khar, Mumbai joins Curious Time and shares her views on Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining Future!

She is an eminent Leader and Educationist and has been inspiring students and future generation of teachers.

Curious Times, the leading school newspaper and children’s website is pleased to bring perspectives of Senior Educationists and teachers to our readers. Over the past 3 years a lot has changed in the education sector, teaching methods, curricula, use of technology, introduction of NEP, emphasis on mental wellbeing of children and how schools shape careers of next the generation. We believe that the energy and enthusiasm of the leaders to adapt to these changes will help not just leading through the crisis of learning gaps but also reimagining the future of education.

Here is our conversation with Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya, Jasudben ML School, Mumbai:

Curious Times: Technology has brought about a shift in the teaching and learning ecosystem. As you reimagine future, what, in your opinion, would be the role of technology and what would be the role of teachers?

Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya: AI will make learning easier provided we can reach out to the tier 2 & tier 3 cities as well and also to small towns– basically make technology available to all. We should also be able to train and re skill our teachers. Teachers will easily adapt as they have shown they can. Technology and Human resources would need to be developed together. Technology cannot replace the emotions that humans are capable of expressing. Technology will help the teachers help the students making learning joyful.

Curious Times: NEP puts a lot of emphasis on skilling and co-curricular activities. How will this have a positive impact on learning outcomes in the future?

Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya: Students will get a chance to explore their uncharted paths. They will develop new skill sets that will make them unique. They will learn to respect all professions. They will value what they learn.
All these experiences together will make them problem solvers, lateral thinkers . We will have a new generation of entrepreneurs and inventors.

Curious Times: What role can schools play in making students reach their potential careers?

Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya: Schools must adopt the opportunities given by the NEP. — giving the children a scope to explore all possibilities as far as careers are concerned. The environment of the school will surely encourage the students to re think their career choices.

Curious Times: The pressures in the 21st century are different from earlier times. What will be the role of schools and teachers in mental wellbeing of students going forward?

Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya: We would need to continuously support the children. Teachers, parents and councellors schools would have to be taught to face results of excessive screen time,students turning more insular, cope with loneliness– which I believe will be the biggest challenge.

Curious Times: As you reimagine the future, how can schools become inclusive and accommodate students from all ethnicities or with different abilities?

Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya: We must have the right intent. The rest will follow I believe.

Curious Times: Schools prepare children for higher education. Should competitive exams have a different curriculum than schools?
Coaching classes and ed-tech companies have been supplementing the school education. What do you think should be their role?

Ms. Damayanti Bhattacharya: I think high school curriculum should be aligned with the competitive exams irrespective of boards or rather the Competitive exams should take into account, what the schools are teaching. If that’s done then there will be less failures, and as a nation we will have not failed our children!

I think we have all spoken enough, it is now time to take our plans ahead. Have more clarity about the path we should follow, and the governments should stop dragging their feet.

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