The third edition of Brainfeed’s School Leaders Conclave ended on a high note at the The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet here on Saturday. School Leaders from different parts of the country and region discussed and deliberated on the theme: NEP 2020: Intentions, Interpretations & Realities’.
Dr Skand Bali, Principal, The Hyderabad Public School (HPS), Begumpet welcomed the gathering and explained the growth of HPS over the years. Incidentally, the institution is turning 100 this year. K V Brahmam, Editor-in-Chief Brainfeed Magazine said, “The 3rd edition of the School Leaders Conclave thanks the HPS management and Dr Skand Bali and added that such conclaves numbering 20 would be conducted across the country.”
The Guest of Honor Sr. Anthonamma Pyreddy, Superior General, President of schools & Colleges Society of St.Anne, Hyderabad said that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was the most comprehensive of all policies and the policy makers stressed on the creative development of the individual. Echoing a similar sentiment the keynote speaker Sudhakar Rao, Director, ICFAI Group spelt out five key initiatives envisaged in the policy namely: Multidisciplinary and holistic education, Early Childhood Care & Education, Digital Education and Technology integration, Teachers training and professional development and Vocational Training and Skill Development.
Sudhakar Rao said, “The time has come to enhance career prospects and not job prospects.” He further added that the craze to purse Computer Science by 90 % of the engineering students was something he could not fathom. There is a need for diversity and multi-disciplinary approach.”
Arijit Ghosh Asst. Vice President – Academics Seth M R Jaipuria Group of Schools posed several questions on the implementation of NEP. He said one must focus on the ‘why’ in anything we do. He also wanted the teaching community to have a relook on redesigning assessments. While Mr Arijit dealt on the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ Malcolm Nicolson Head of the School, Sreenidhi International School, Hyderabadsaid that there was a need to change the teachers’ mindset. “We need to enable a growth mindset and drive something new.’
It was followed by sessions moderated by Dr. E Prasad Rao Chairman Paramita Group of Schools Karimnagar, Dr. Jyothi Reddy DOE, Founding Principal The Shri Ram Universal School Hyderabad and Lakshmi Annapurna Chintaluri Founder Educational Mentoring India (EMI) on contentious topics pertaining to NEP 2020 such as the need for rote learning, the four stages of learning in the context of ECCE, teaching in mother tongue, how should school leaders be prepared to implement NEP etc.
It may be noted that the first edition kick started in Coimbatore, followed one in Guntur and the third in Hyderabad.
The detailed report of the conclave would appear in the September issue of Brainfeed magazine.
