On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we bring you some of the most notable and distinguished women eduleaders from the education industry to share their incredible journey, insights, and experiences. Here are the excerpts from the interview
Madhuparna Sreemany
Vice-Chairperson
Pathfinder Educational Group, West Bengal
On women
Women are a force to reckon with. In every field, we have established our proficiency and earned the respect of the world. Education plays an important role and it is imperative that we provide the appropriate education to the girls of our country and arm them to become independent. As an edupreneur, my aim is to make education more accessible and devise articulate planning to make it more mental health-friendly.
Stress is a leading cause for students not being able to perform efficiently. Fortunately, mental health in India is getting more recognition. We support the movement and aim at instilling it within Pathfinder educational instituitions. Our teachers participate in discussion forums that talk about the importance of mental health. We keep regular communication with the students to ensure that they feel comfortable to approach our administrators with any concern that they have. Furthermore, our school counsellors have sessions with those that feel the need to talk to someone. I, myself, speak to students at regular intervals to ensure that therapy is always available to anyone that feels stressed or concerned.
Integrating psychology in enhancing child’s personality
I practised as a psychologist in a hospital in Bangalore. However, I had started working in organization that combined education and psychology way before my masters. Worked for an institution where I got the opportunity to train people with various learning and behavioral disabilities. My training in psychology has enabled me to understand human personalities and behaviour which I’ve always found to be essential in educating a student. Girls have been neglected for ages by our society but today we stand united and strong to attain what we deserve. Today, girls believe in experimenting with career choices and possibilities. It is imperative that I understand that well enough to cater to that and guide them to be whatever they want to be. Pathfinder is dedicated to reach girls in remote parts of West Bengal to provide them with the necessary education along with scholarships and accommodation.
Learnings as an edupreneur
Imparting education is a subjective concept. For a child to be interested in their studies, a teacher needs to understand their mind. Being a psychologist, I realise the importance of a child to love a subject. Working in the field of education, I have found it extremely rewarding to pair teachers to students that have a synchronised mind space. Understanding a student’s mind is extremely essential so that we can impart the correct educational services for them. Communication facilitates understanding of a student’s needs and I strive to meet them to enhance their learning experience. We believe in the absolute importance of the country’s youth being educated for our betterment and development.
