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Showing posts from January, 2023

Child Marriage – A Threat To Progress

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COVID-19 has exacerbated existing systemic gender inequalities, with estimates indicating that up to 10 million more girls may become child brides globally as a result of the pandemic. In India, the prevalence of child marriage varies greatly from state to state (There are eight states currently with higher than the national average). Girls from lower-income families, living in rural areas, and with little or no education are more likely to marry as children. In a recent conversation with the well-known entrepreneur and educationist, Anoop Bishnoi , he expressed his concern about this and said, “To eradicate child marriage, a multifaceted, and collaborative action is required. Parents, community members, teachers, local authorities, and youth, both boys and girls, must all be consulted and involved in the effort to end child marriage so that, in the near future, all young people can choose whether, when, and with whom to marry. The greater a girl's education, the less likely she

Caring for Children’s Mental Health

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Childhood is a critical stage for mental health, it’s a period of rapid growth and development in the brain. Children and adolescents develop cognitive and social-emotional skills that shape their future mental health and prepare them for adulthood. The environment in which children and adolescents grow has an impact on their well-being and development. Early negative experiences in homes, schools, or digital spaces, such as exposure to violence, a parent’s or caregiver’s mental illness, bullying, poverty, and sexual abuse all increase the risk of mental illness. Here’s what Anoop Bishnoi , the Chairman of the Doon School, Dehradun, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, has to say about it, “In today’s world, the burden on children is increasing all the time. From academics to extracurricular activities, children are constantly pressured to excel in everything they do. Creating healthy habits that help our children feel stronger, happier, safer, and more in control of their lives is on

Technology Integration in Modern Classrooms

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Those days are now gone when the students used to take notes hurriedly while the teachers delivered lectures. Technology for schools is a driving force in education in the twenty-first century and schools are rapidly adjusting to it as well as embracing this change. Smart boards in the classroom, projectors, smart tables, and integrated learning systems are being developed. These technological advancements in education are required to prepare students for their future careers. Here’s what Anoop Bishnoi , Chairman of The Doon School, Dehradun, has to say about it, “New technology opens up new possibilities in all aspects of life. Implementing technology in schools is a prime example of such a chance. The use of technology promotes collaboration between students and teachers by incorporating rapid learning. Smart boards, smart tables, and projectors are examples of tools that improve the learning and teaching experience. The use of an integrated learning system ensures that the curricu

Transform for Tomorrow-Learning Social & Emotional Skills

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How often do we become consciously aware of the feelings and perspectives of those with whom we interact on a daily basis, whether they are familiar or strangers? In today’s increasingly diverse world, the classroom is often the first place where students are exposed to people from a variety of different backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities. Social and emotional learning (SEL) aims to help students better understand their thoughts and emotions, become more self-aware, and develop more empathy for others in their community and the world around them in order to account for these differences and help put all students on an equal footing to succeed. Here’s what Anoop Bishnoi , Chairman of The Doon School, Dehradun, has to say about why social and emotional learning is essential for students. He says, “Future jobs will surely demand SEL skills as well as the ability to adapt to change. As we have seen and experienced, there has been a greater emphasis on our students’ and our own mental

Getting to Equal-Closing the Gender Gap through Education

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Inequalities in access, completion, and quality plague India’s education system. Class, linguistic background, gender, ethnicity, and place of birth all influence children’s educational experiences in India. These, in turn, lead to knowledge inequalities in Indian society. In a recent conversation, Anoop Bishnoi , Chairman of The Doon School Dehradun, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, shared his views about how India’s education system escape can the vicious cycle of inequality and discrimination. He said, “The fact that India has a high tolerance for inequality and a fairly widespread belief that the poor, marginalized communities and PWDs are somehow responsible for their own situation is at the heart of the problem. As a result, teachers, government officials, communities, and parents frequently have low expectations of girls and children from marginalized communities, which are frequently internalized by students, creating an intergenerational cycle. Simultaneously, parents, teache

Climate Education- Being Future Ready for Climate Change

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India is one of the few countries where formal education includes environmental education. However, it, like moral science, is at the bottom of the priority list. Education is a critical tool for advancing climate change action, but its full potential has yet to be realized. Teachers and students in a country heavily impacted by climate change must better understand the threats and opportunities. “Climate Literacy is critical for developing the next generation of innovative thinkers, It should be made a part of school curricula.”, said Anoop Singh Bishnoi, Chairman of The Doon School, Dehradun, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He further added, “It’s important for children to learn about the impact of unsustainable growth, it’ll make them more sensitive towards adopting an environmental-friendly lifestyle.” Climate change is an intergenerational issue, and discussions about it should not be limited to adults. As a result, it is critical that we educate children about climate change a

Preparing a Pandemic Response for the New Era of Learners

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Who knows if the next pandemic could occur as early as next year. Or in 2033. Or 2052. It could be one of the hundreds of known coronaviruses, or it could be a newly mutated strain of the flu. On Earth, there is no shortage of evolving microbes capable of producing a new human scourge. What, if anything, should schools do to prepare for another pandemic in the future? What lessons have been learned in order for schools to do a better job the next time—assuming there is a next time? The lessons learned during this pandemic are numerous, ranging from the fragility of schools as social-safety nets for working families to our systematic ability to advance technological equity when compelled, to teachers’ frontline worker status, despite being underpaid and undervalued, to the direct correlation between classroom sizes and culture effectiveness. We’ve learned a loud lesson through these times, and that lesson is that schools frequently only know about students and families in the context