Need to wake up to flip side of technology and focus on kids

Harmit Kaur Waraich, principal of Nanakana Public School, reflects on her 30-year journey in education field and the transformation she has witnessed over the years. Speaking with Shivani Bhakoo, she shares insights into evolving education system, the impact of NEP 2020, and the need for moral guidance to adolescents.

As an educationist, what changes have you seen? I have seen many changes since the time I started teaching. Day by day, CBSE has been evolving and bringing in new reforms in line with changing times. The first major change I observed was the introduction of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system, which laid the foundation for formative assessments—a method of regularly assessing students’ progress throughout the year. This made the assessment system more dynamic and student-friendly. The focus shifted from one-time pen-and-paper tests to various modes of assessment that cater to individual learning styles.

Are we providing the right education to students? Do you see a scope for improvement?

For the first time, our education system started recognising and addressing individual learning capabilities. From that point onward, there has been no end to innovation. We began discussing gender sensitivity, inclusive education and much more. I feel that, in a way, we laid the groundwork for the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 during those early reforms. NEP 2020 is a landmark for our country, as it is a policy that will be uniformly implemented across India. The minimum age for school entry has been fixed at three years. Now, the education system across India will follow a structure where the first five years of schooling are called the Foundational Stage, followed by the Primary Stage (three years), the Middle Stage (three years) and the Secondary Stage (four years, divided into two phases: Phase I – IX and X, and Phase II – XI and XII). This uniform structure will bring all states onto a common platform. Another landmark initiative is the National Credit Framework. Once implemented, it will bridge the gap between school and higher education by connecting them through a credit points system.

Do adolescents require moral policing by parents and teachers? How much liberty should students be given?

When we talk about system change, it doesn’t happen overnight. But yes, schools now have to play an even more significant role in implementing value-based education. While there’s plenty of information available to children through social media and other platforms, they have limited real knowledge. They are digitally more connected and physically disconnected. Family systems are collapsing as everyone is absorbed in their personal digital devices—mobiles, iPads, computers, etc. As a result, children are often left to fend for themselves, which makes them vulnerable to bad influences and habits such as vaping. Parents also need to be more accountable. Children receive financial resources and support from home, yet in many cases, parents don’t have time for their children. They try to make up for it by giving them material things and fulfilling both justified and unjustified demands. This often leads to distraction and disconnection. In my opinion, it is the right time now. We need to wake up and focus on our children. We need to build emotional connections with them, spend time with them and truly get to know them.

Punjab