Amity Academic Leadership Forum For K-12 Schools India, Amity University Gurugram organized Panel Discussion on Reimagining Academic Pedagogy after NEP: Problems and Solutions on 22nd December 2021.
Esteemed Panelists were Mrs. Oshima Mathur, Principal, Navy Children School, Delhi, Ms.Ashu Arora, Principal, Central Academy Senior Sec School, Alwar, Ms. Priya Shrivastava, Principal, Euro International Sector-109, Gurugram, Ms. Reenu Singh, Principal, Shalom Presidency School, Gurugram, Ms. Puneet Kaur, Principal, Army Public School, Jammu Cantt.
Mr. Sachin Juneja, Director, Market Promotions moderated the session and discuss major key points on Reimagining Academic Pedagogy after NEP: Problems and Solutions
Ms. Oshima Mathur, Principal of Navy Children School, Delhi, shared her view on the innovative pedagogical initiatives they have implemented the NEP at the school. She mentioned that they have made lots of interesting clubs for the students to bring empathy, and resilience. Subjects like pottery, aeromodelling, artificial intelligence, and many more are there for the students to provide them with future learning.
In Further discussion with her on Innovation at Schools – Problems and Solutions, she mentioned that they work with 3 H of education which are Head, Heart & Hands. We have left our hearts and forgotten to care for others, Education should let everyone love each other, students are going to be a global citizens, togetherness with hands to provide best to our students is important, She added.
Dr. Priya Srivastava, Principal, Euro International S-109, Gurugram mentioned that
NEP, steps have been taken to change the major things. In our school, we work to develop these skills as extra-curricular Activities, she specified.
As we know every child is unique, so we must find the area of interest in which that student is interested and should plan the academic structure around it. Not only Teachers parents are also equally responsible for a child's growth, It's a triangle approach between Teachers- parents & students to handhold for students' growth.
The first thing to generate new ideas so the overall growth of a child. As we all know because of COVID-19 all of us have gone back for at least a year so to come back to the track, we must take some initiative by taking help from technology. These are virtual times & students are having all the technology so we must explain to them how to use technology in a good way so that they can utilize these innovations in a great way. Also, we need to conduct other sessions as well in which we can do workshops on innovations for students so that they can have a fair idea about the same, She added.
Ms. Ashu Arora, Principal, Central Academy ,Alwar
With NEP Things have changed now, Earlier if any student is good in studies, then the science stream was the only available option for students. But now any student can choose any subjects as per their choice & interest so that we can get the best out of it.
She also explained on Experiential learning and its process of learning through experience, or "learning through reflection on doing" To feel it we have given the task to the students to choose 1 state from East, West, North, or South and they have to prepare each and everything about that particular states like their Dance step, Food and culture also students need to represent it to the assembly also so that we can enhance the confidence level of the students, Also, our teachers should be more creative in their own way.
Ms. Renu Singh, Principal, Shalom presidency School, Gurugram
NEP is the talk of the town, it will bring equitable and inclusive education. NEP will bring drastic changes in the present education system like the dropout rate will decrease drastically and students will be prepared for 21st Century skills required for employment. Experiential learning, though we do it it will be made mandatory under NEP. Restriction of course selection will be removed. There are some Pedagogy structural reforms also like practical approach in syllabus, foundational years are to be given more focus, a multi-lingual approach, mother tongue to be given more preference, academic bank credit.
In our school, experiential learning is an important aspect that we focus on, we plan the syllabus and cover it on theme-based including arts, science themes of the month. Medicinal garden tours, field trips if students, and using 21st-century technology like AI & Robotics and activity-based learning in all chapters.
Ms. Puneet Kaur, Principal, Army Public School, Jammu Cantt.
NEP is transforming assessment techniques, promoting assessment for learning not of learning. Teaching should be focused on learning outcomes, it tests the core capacity and competency of the student rather than the content learning attribute. It will discourage coaching culture. A drastic change in assessment in board exams from annually has already been implemented in 2 part boards, 1st term with MCQs and 2nd term subjective. NEP encourages the use of AI for assessment like in PARAKH. But NEP should not be implemented randomly rather in a phased manner.
Rural students are facing problems as they do not have proper implements to use, the digital gap is 63% in India between rural and urban students. In rural, we should focus on students on a single basis and 3 key policies to be used –
- Personalized learning intervention (needs & demand)
- Interventional approach
- A special set of instructions for certain students like –
- Increase in teaching time
- Employee professionalism
Mr. Sachin Juneja, Director - Market Promotions, end the session with a vote of thanks.