My Expressions

Ed Leader – Milind Kaluskar, Delhi World Public School, Morbi

Education is an integral part of a child’s upbringing. We, at Curious Times, have made it our aim to ensure that we also play an active role in imparting the right knowledge to all the Curious children. As such, we also try to ensure that we are always in touch with the leaders in education today and learning from them. After all, it is important to learn from the best.

So, today, we present to you a one-on-one conversation with Milind Kaluskar. He is the Principal of Delhi World Public School, Morbi. The school aims to provide state-of-the-art education, incorporating Indian values to create global citizens as torchbearers of a dynamic and harmonious world.

When did you decide to step into the world of education? What motivated you to become an Educator? I would say that I am a “genetically blessed teacher”. I was inspired to join the world of education as both my father and my uncle were professors in the university, teaching the same subject. I always closely observed their achievements and the increasing respect they got in society. So, knowingly or unknowingly, all these registered in my subconscious mind, which triggered a yearning for teaching from childhood and finally, as a grown-up youth of the ’90s, I started my career as a TGT-English teacher. I visualised the journey called education as a long and beautiful train that is propelled by the engine of knowledge, passionate love for teaching and an emotional bond with the profession. And even today, this train really looks beautiful.

Share some of the challenges you have faced in your career journey. How did you convert those challenges into the pillars of success? Frankly speaking, I find the word “challenges” has a negative element. But as a nation builder, I feel these challenges do come in front of us with hidden opportunities behind them. Challenges are part of every profession. And undoubtedly, life will not look beautiful in the absence of challenges.

Ao far as my teaching career is concerned, yes – there were challenges. This was especially in terms of increased awareness on the part of stakeholders. But this has compelled teachers to remain updated on the latest innovations. Sometimes, I have also found that sometimes, the stakeholders entered into discussions a little too negatively and were overtly critical. However, these challenges did not affect my passion for teaching. I have always maintained a mirror-like image in front of students. This way, they get confidence that their teacher will never mislead them. This attitude built a positive bridge of acceptance and understanding between me and my students. So, for me, it all depends on how you say, what you say and that understanding has never created any issues so far.

What are the changes have you observed over the years in the field of education? Are you happy with these changes? As I have already said, I visualise education as a long and beautiful train. It is constantly propelled along with changing times and changing minds. So, being educators, we need to be aware of that changing pace.

Earlier, teaching was extremely conventional with the proverbial “chalk and duster”. It was a teacher-dominated era in the school classrooms and parents used to consider the teacher as an embodiment of knowledge, wisdom and some who was passionate about teaching. However, gradually with the advent of the internet, there was a transformation. It led to a paradigm shift resulting in a reduced teacher-centric environment and increasing awareness on part of stakeholders. Some teachers also found the banning of corporal punishment quite restrictive.

However, as an educator, I have never felt the stress of this transformation because I am very straightforward, with my own clear ideas and mindset. I am aware of what to allow and what not to allow and I am open to suggestions. For me, since change is an inevitable part of life, I have always enjoyed it. For example, there may have been a time when I couldn’t imagine teaching online but today it is a happy reality. Actually, even for others, initially, people may have found adapting to the new times difficult, but gradually everyone started understanding the hidden benefits.

What changes would you like to see in the field of Education? What role can the various stakeholders like the government, teachers, students and parents play in this? Since the beginning of civilization, education has been the backbone of it. You cannot imagine society growing and developing in the absence of a strong foundation of education. I feel that in future if the schools continue to remain closed, we should refrain from mass promoting everyone because anything achieved without effort is valueless. Mass promotion cannot be accepted as the backbone of education backbone for a country aiming to become a superpower nation.

The future is definitely going to be of a blended learning system. Many sectors are likely to experience automatization, Hence it is a serious responsibility on part of teachers to create citizens who are ready to accept and adapt to these new ideas. The government must essentially provide the required basic infrastructure for effective implementation and proliferation of these changes. Moreover, the teachers, as always, should keep themselves abreast of the changing times. The students, instead of becoming a “factory of marks” should focus on developing skills that can help them become innovative and self-sufficient. Instead of depending only on government jobs, they should also have an entrepreneurial spirit.

Parents will have to play a key role too. They need to stop imposing their expectations on the children. They should create an environment that is supportive and conducive to develop their children’s skills. The home environment should be friendly, open for discussion and devoid of fear. Parents also need to teach cultural values to their children and narrate the stories from religious epics like The Mahabharata and The Ramayan. This can build character. Moreover, there has to be a healthy communication system at home.

if we are able to provide a part of, if not everything, from this, then, future students will have a visionary and positive approach towards their future and for the country. Otherwise, they might become easy prey to anti-social elements.

Share your message with the aspiring teachers and leaders of tomorrow. Aspiring teachers must remember that teaching is a noble profession. When you become a teacher, you are taking up a huge responsibility of shaping the youth and thereby contributing to the transformation of the nation. Teachers should enter this profession only if they are ready to take up these responsibilities and if they are ready to keep themselves updated with the changing times. Since the teaching profession is the noblest one, a teacher also needs to be noble, knowledgeable and open to ideas and innovations from stakeholders.

Leaders need to be highly motivating, innovative and real mentors for the youth. in the absence of a futuristic approach, leaders might not be able to provide the required pivotal force to the teachers’ efforts. Leaders should create a skill-cultivating environment in the school. Moreover, they should constantly remain in touch with industries to cope-up with the skill demand.

Share your message for your and Curious Times students. My dear students, you are all the epitome of energy, ideas and skills; however, your energy requires proper channelization. Your textbooks are your binding friends, do not part with them. Reading books will increase your visualization power and this visualization skill will take you to the mountain of success. Once you reach there, you will get a superior vision for attaining the desired outcome. Be a polite, obedient, innovative professional and responsible citizen of India. When you grow up, be the strength of your parents, and create such an identity that your parents feel proud of you.

Milind Kaluskar, Principal

Delhi World Public School, Morbi

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