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Mr. Shailendra Singh Solanki, Principal, Mother Academy, Khurja, MP joins Curious Times to celebrate Teachers Day and shares his views on Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining Future! He 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 on Teachers Day 2022. Over the past 3 years a lot has changed in the education sector, teaching methods, curricula, use of technology, introduction of NEP 2020, 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 Shailendra Singh Solanki, Principal, Mother Academy, Khurja:

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?

Mr. Shailendra Singh Solanki: Students can collaborate on group projects using technology-based tools such as wikis and Google docs. The walls of the classrooms are no longer a barrier as technology enables new ways of learning, communicating, and working collaboratively. Technology has also begun to change the roles of teachers and learners.
Technology will be going to play a vital role in the future of students to establish their future.

Curious Times: NEP 2020 puts a lot of emphasis on skilling and co-curricular activities. How will this have a positive impact on learning outcomes in the future?

Mr. Shailendra Singh Solanki: Under the NEP 2020, the focus areas of the reforms seek to cultivate ’21st-century skills’ among students, including critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and digital literacy.

The policy has a balanced and inclusive outlook, with a diminished line of difference between arts and STEM courses, in addition to blended, multi-disciplinary learning. It recognises the need to bridge the gap in education through technology and digitisation.
Through Blended learning and flipped classroom, students can explore their learning.

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

Mr. Shailendra Singh Solanki: School systems have to evolve in terms of their structure, programs, and teaching strategies that will align well with the essential requirements mentioned above and prepare students well for the work-life in future by honing the right skills. Schools need to respond to the demands of the job-market by extending and adapting to what, and how they teach, with the objective of bridging the distance between the classroom and workplace. At every level of education, professionals, mentors, and educationists should work together to confront and conquer the skills gap and reconfigure the education-to-work pipeline.

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?

Mr. Shailendra Singh Solanki: As knowledge regarding human development and learning has grown at a rapid pace, the opportunity to shape more effective educational practices has also increased. Taking advantage of these advances, however, requires integrating insights across multiple fields—from the biological and neurosciences to psychology, sociology, developmental and learning sciences—and connecting them to knowledge of successful approaches that is emerging in education. This article seeks to contribute to this process by drawing out the implications for school and classroom practices of an emerging consensus about the science of learning and development (SoLD)
Schools around the world have been designed to support students’ health. Elementary schools, creating a completely redesigned campus in the wake of a school shooting, began with an inclusive design process to ensure the new school could be a place of healing and learning. And while the larger mental and physical impacts of how COVID-19 has changed schooling aren’t known yet, discusses how building elements like large windows—that can open to circulate fresh air—were once common in schools and could once again be useful as a cost-effective tactic for reducing virus exposure.

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

Mr. Shailendra Singh Solanki: Collaboration that includes students, support staff, families, and community members ensures all students are considered and included. Teacher collaboration creates an environment in which learning and instruction are consistent for all students. When teachers have time to work with each other, they can identify gaps in teaching and inclusion and intervene sooner to correct them.
The school uses several strategies to create a positive, inclusive environment, such as calling a handful of immigrant parents every weekend to check in and ask what they need. Students and their families can attend regular movie nights and potluck dinners. The culture of the school is one of welcoming newcomers. Everyone is made to feel a part of the community with something unique to contribute from their own backgrounds and experiences.

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?

Mr. Shailendra Singh Solanki: Yes, according to me, the current education system must be changed somehow. Some of the students are not studying happily, they all are feeling it as a burden and becoming stressed day by day due to the amount of work given by their teachers. Here the workload has increased and the ability to show their innovation has decreased. Students are being given projects, but they are not doing it in a correct way i.e. not using their creativity.
I absolutely agree that they must practice the lessons taught but that should be limited. Apart from education, students should get exposed to other activities as well and that is really important. Due to a lot of work, students are not taking care of their health and some of them are getting affected by it.

We should give more emphasize on developing futuristic education system to provide quality education to everyone.

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