Education Conclave-2019 ends on a high

Bhubaneswar: Experts from industry and academia today deliberated on transforming education and challenges for teachers, specifically for the digital generation at the Education Conclave-2019 organised by Odisha’s No 1 media house Sambad Group.

The first-of-its-kind daylong conclave organized at a city-based hotel was attended by the members of the education fraternity to brainstorm on the key issues.

“I started my job as a lecturer at Banaras Hindu University. I can’t go back to the good old days but I always love to spend time with teachers. Educational policies have been experimented in the past. Unfortunately, our education system is at crossroads. Prof Amartya Sen had once said without education no developmental scheme or programme will ever be complete particularly in developing countries,” Sambad Group chairman Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said.

The editor of the popular daily further cautioned that education instead of unifying is playing a dividing role. There is a divide of students educated in public school educated and government-run institutes. There is a great deal of unemployment as students are running after acquiring degrees. The educational certificates don’t fetch jobs. Nowadays, there are a number of options as compared to olden times.

“In the age of digital media, students are following search engines as reference. It shouldn’t be the case. The education should be practical-based,” said Ranbir Ray, Assistant Director of NIPS.

Managing Director of Sambad Group Monica Nayyar Patnaik delivered the introductory speech and welcomed the guests.

“We were not expecting such a huge gathering. Earlier, the event was postponed twice due to Cyclone Fani and other reasons. Interestingly, India has a population between 05 and 24 of 500 million. The career avenues were not much during our times as compared to the present time. Teachers can guide them to choose between options,” Monica Nayyar Patnaik said.

First session: Transforming education for the next decade

“Online learning opens the scope of learning. This helps them learn new concepts. Because of its interactive nature, digital platform is easy to grab. The advent of technology in the education sector has changed the pattern of teaching,” said Joseph Uttam Gomes, Deputy Director of NIPS.

“Education is a constant subject for one’s growth. Transformation of education for the next decade very much depends on the educators. The sole and essence of education must be looked into. The educators must be exposed to the large arena,” said Nadia Moghbelpour, education psychologist and founder Director of Blossoms School.

“I have experience of working with IIT system, IIM system and university system. Education is a hallmark of progress. In the past decade, we witnessed massive privatization of education. The quality of education has increased and the future belongs to the private players. But, it needs a proper regulator. Tourism and hospitality sectors are the future of education. They should be integrated. We need good and quality teachers who can become educational leaders,” expressed Prof (Dr) Binayak Rath, former VC of Utkal University.

“Transformation of education has already kick-started in Odisha. The gross enrollment in private institutes has increased, the reason being quality education and infrastructure prerequisite. In government institutes, everything is predefined. If there will be no freedom, transformation cannot take place,” said DN Mishra Principal, DAV School of Business Management.

Former bureaucrat Prof SN Mishra moderated the session.

Second session: Challenges for teacher in teaching new digital generation

“Information and Communication Technology has seen a paradigm shift. Digital medium will become a way of teaching. The teachers must know how the information flow can be an enabler in the 21^st century,” said Bijoy Kumar Sahoo, Chairman of SAI International School.

“It is challenging for a teacher to know children’s requirements. The teachers should establish a personal relationship with students to understand them better. The classroom teaching should be made interesting. In case of extra information, he/she can seek from digital boards. Teachers cannot be replaced,” opined Sikata Das, Director of Takshila School.

“Today’s generation is growing up with advanced technologies. Even the teachers have to be prepared to meet the challenges,” said Michael Anthony of NIPS.

“Teachers need to have ICT skills to teach new digital generation students. Right approach to the subject is key to strike a right balance. Further, the ability to melt down the generation gap will help connect with students,” said Akhileswar Mishra, Headmaster, DM School.

The session was moderated by Prof Jatindra Kumar Nayak.