The Policy Is Ambitious but Implementation Is the Key - Jayashree Nair Mukherjee

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1. Tell us more about your experience as an educator. 

I have been an educator for more than two decades and have taught in different locations in India. I have observed that learners are inherently intelligent and observant but somehow, our education system and poor teaching plays havoc with the students future and more dangerously their minds 

2. What is your opinion of the New Indian education policy changes? 

Much needed policy and it is well thought especially the early education where the stress is on teaching in the mother tongue and the stress on teaching social skills. The policy is ambitious but implementation is the key. Also sensitizing parents to this new policy is crucial. 

3. What changes in the teaching methodologies have you seen in recent times? 

No changes. Both the teachers and students are still evaluated based on how successful a particular batch was in rote learning. So, if this is the outcome, what change can you expect? When I headed a school, I still remember the shocked face of a parent when I said that the USP of my school is that in my school children are happy. 

They want to come to school even on holidays. That was irrelevant for the parent. The parent an assurance that their child will score 98-100%! 

4. How does education help one do well in their career? 

Sadly education in India has nothing much to do with careers in most cases. There are so many Engineering graduates in India, how many of them are doing Engineering? I have seen doctors, and engineers work in call-centers. 

It’s a vicious cycle actually! Most of our jobs are backend jobs and they do not require creativity or ingenuity. 

5. Do you think teaching as a profession is viewed at par with corporate jobs? 

I strongly feel that teaching MUST not be compared to Corporate jobs. To begin with what is so haloed about a corporate job? Does a person work in Corporate change anything in society? I feel these corporate jobs are a new kind of slavery. 

Contrary to this a teacher touches and changes lives. The influence of a teacher is life long. That is why we need to revamp the education system. This lockdown has proven that students today can choose to learn a subject from any teacher in the world. 

The educational institution has to prepare a learner for the world outside and sorry that skill is not a part of any school curriculum. 

6. How can we adopt technology to make teaching more effective? 

Technology is a game-changer! So many schools that fleeced parents with the exorbitant fees over sprawling infrastructure have suddenly realized that these frills have nothing to do with learning. Technology has made learning accessible to every learner. 

As a student in Sikkim, I can learn Physics from the best teacher in India or even the world. Technology has also made learners self-reliant and they can learn at their pace. The new education policy gives them that freedom to learn at their pace and in their time 

7. Why does India need more educators like you? 

I would say that India needs educators who are role models for their students. The educator needs to use collaborative teaching methods and encourage critical thinking among students. 

They also need to step down from their pedestal and learn from the learners. The day the teacher becomes a learner, there will be magic in the classroom! 

Jayashree Nair Mukherjee

Consultant and Trainer


Interviewed By - Sandeep Virothu