Education Conclave hosted by Ramjas School

Ramjas International School, R. K. Puram, hosted Edu Conclave 2023 on Saturday, 16 September 2023 at the India International Centre. It was a landmark event which marked the 50th year of the institution, and brought together educators, administrators, policy makers, and stakeholders from the education sector. Its primary goal was to foster discussion, idea exchange, and collaboration which aimed at enhancing the educational systems per se. Over sixty educators from various schools across the national capital and the NCR region, participated in the event. The Indian School was represented by Principal, Ms. Tania Joshi, Head Teacher- Primary, Ms. Vandana Tewari, and Ms. Minoo Sethi.

Keynote Address: The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, shloka recital, and the felicitation of the chief guest Dr (Mrs) Pragya M. Singh, Director of Academics-Assessment at CBSE. Dr Singh emphasised the importance of change in fostering growth. She highlighted key aspects of the 'National Education Policy 2020,' which advocates a comprehensive overhaul of the education system to align with the aspirations of 21st-century education while preserving India's traditions and values. Dr Singh's presentation covered topics such as digital integration, flexible curriculum, teacher empowerment, inclusivity, and holistic learning. She stressed on the shift towards competency-based teaching, progress tracking and redesigning report cards to assess holistic child development. Dr Singh also emphasised the incorporation of life skills, value education, environmental education, art integration and multi-lingual teaching.

Speaker Highlights:

1. Dr Amita Mullah Wattal: Chairperson and Executive Director of DLF Foundation Schools and Scholarships, discussed 'Transformative Schools' with a focus on designing student well-being strategies. She introduced a 4-D framework for classrooms that embrace 21st-century pedagogies.
2. Ms Jayanti Das Gupta: Vice President of Customer Success at Educational Initiatives, presented her organisation's efforts to enhance learning through pedagogical research and technology. She emphasised the importance of identifying learning gaps and transforming teaching and learning methods.
3. Dr Sudha Acharya: Principal of ITL Public School and Chairperson of NPSC, discussed holistic assessment and the designing of Holistic Progress Cards (HPC) for Pre school to class 3 students. Her session highlighted the Panchakosha Vikas (Five-fold Development) and Nipun Bharat's vision for universal foundation literacy and numeracy.
4. Mr Kapil Chanana: Chief Growth Officer (Marketing) at Eupheus Learning, focused on bridging the gap between in-classroom and at-home learning using technology-led solutions in the K12 space.
5. Ms Lata Vaidyanathan: Director/Manager of Gyan Bharti School, addressed the topic of Growth Mindset, encouraging educators to believe in intelligence as a malleable trait that can be improved through hard work, persistence, help-seeking, resilience, and exploring potential.
6. Dr Ashok K. Pandey: Educationist and Former Chairperson of NPSC, spoke about the 'Importance of Education Rooted in Indian Culture & Knowledge System.' He stressed the need to incorporate Indian knowledge and traditions into education as a way of life, beyond just achieving literacy targets.

Edu Conclave 2023 provided a platform for educators to engage in meaningful discussions and share strategies. The event encouraged educators to become thought activists and contribute to the creation of thinking learners. The insights and perspectives shared by the speakers highlighted the evolving landscape of education in India, emphasising adaptability, innovation and a holistic approach to nurturing students for the challenges of the 21st century. The event was a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of education, and it is hoped that the ideas and strategies discussed will continue to shape the future of education in India.