Brainfeed Magazine is organising a series of educational leadership conclaves across India to confer on the salient features of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the likely challenges educational institutions may face during its implementation. The first conclave of this series was successfully organised in Coimbatore, on 15th July, 2023. The Brainfeed School Leaders Conclave 2023-Guntur Chapter is the second in the series and was organised on 30th July, 2023.
Brainfeed Magazine and Independent Schools Managements’ Association Andhra Pradesh (ISMA) supported by Andhra Pradesh Unaided Schools’ Management Association (APPUSMA) successfully concluded the Brainfeed School Leaders Conclave 2023-Guntur Chapter.
Sri M V Ramachandra Reddy, Honourable Member of the Legislative Council, Andhra Pradesh and President, APPUSMA and Dr. V Vinod Kumar (IAS), MD & CEO, AP State Skill Development Corporation, Government Of Andhra Pradesh, graced their presence as the Guests of Honour at the Brainfeed School Leaders Conclave 2023-Guntur Chapter.
The conclave started with the lighting of the auspicious lamp by the dignitaries. Sri M V Ramachandra Reddy, who is also an educationist and Chairman of Saibaba Group of Institutions, Kadapa elucidated the paradigm shift in the field of education in modern India and particularly in Andhra Pradesh. He stressed upon the need for schools to be open to policy changes and at same time implement them effectively.
Dr. V Vinod Kumar (IAS) brought to the audience’s notice the importance of skill education, particularly in today’s scenario. He said he is thankful that the governments and society as a whole are coming to terms with the fact that skill education is the way forward to address the modern challenges we face. He also added that given the current technological advances there is a need to skill our students in cutting edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Praveen Kumar Sayyaparaju, Deputy CEO & Head – Education, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysore, while delivering his keynote speech said “Despite of massive increase in spends to reform education, many school systems have barely improved in decades.” He added the following as lessons from best schooling systems:
- Getting the right people to become teachers
- Developing them into effective instructors
- Ensuring that the system is able to deliver the best possible instruction for
- every child
From a NEP 2020 perspective, Praveen Kumar suggested the following key focus areas for private schools:
- Capable & reflective teachers and teacher trainees
- Stimulating learning environments
- Peer-to-peer learning as a culture
- School complexes for collaboration, resource sharing & improvement
Guest Speakers GVS Prasad and Gnanapandithan Muthusamy addressed the delegates on the topic NEP 2020: Intentions, Interpretations & Realities. GVS Prasad said “National Curriculum Framework (NCF) will help schools in their transformation journey through positive changes in curriculum including pedagogy. But, schools need to be ready to address challenges such as balancing standardized curriculum and local needs, bridging the urban-rural divide, training teachers to adapt to new technologies and other resultant challenges during implementation.”
The conclave also had a panel discussion on the same topic. The panelists were: K. Sreekanth, President, ISMA, Director, NextGen International Schools; K. Tulasi Prasad, Gen Secretary, APPUSMA, Director, Sri Rama Rural Institutions; Rev. Dr. Sagayaraj Mark S. J, Correspondent, Andhra Loyola College & Secretary, TCBC Commission for Education, Vijayawada; Latha Thomas Director, Top Kids School, Guntur; Prof. K. Rama Seshadri Rao, Director, Vignan Bharat School, Vijayawada. The eminent panelist who are all school leaders in their own right have put forward their views on NEP 2020 and the likely challenges they foresee to face during its implementation at ground level.
The conclave was conducted under the aegis of Rev. Fr. Y. J. R. Bharat Reddy, Principal, STEM School, Vidya Nagar, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The event also had cultural performance by the students of STEM School, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
