Punjab: Need to understand the other side of technology and focus on children

Punjab: Harmeet Kaur Waraich, Principal of Nankana Public School, talks about her 30-year journey in education and the changes she has witnessed over the years. Speaking to Shivani Bhakoo, she shares insights about the evolution of the education system, the impact of NEP 2020, and the need for moral guidance for adolescents. As an educationist, what changes have you observed? I have witnessed many changes since I started teaching. Day by day, CBSE is evolving and bringing in new reforms to keep up with the changing times. The first major change I noticed was the introduction of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system, which laid the foundation for formative assessment—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 different modes of assessment that cater to individual learning styles.

Are we giving the right education to students? Do you see room for improvement?
For the first time, our education system began to recognise and address individual learning abilities. From that point forward, there has been no end to innovation. We began discussing gender sensitivity, inclusive education, and more. I think, in a way, we laid the groundwork for the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 during those early reforms. NEP 2020 is a milestone for our country, as it is a policy that will be implemented uniformly across India. The minimum age for school admission has been set 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), Middle Stage (three years) and Secondary Stage (four years, divided into two stages: Phase I – IX and X, and Phase II – XI and XII). This uniform structure will bring all states on 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 point system. Do adolescents need moral policing by parents and teachers? How much freedom should students be given?
When we talk about system change, it does not happen overnight. But yes, now schools have to play an even more important role in implementing value-based education. Although there is a lot of information available to children through social media and other platforms, they have limited real-world knowledge. They are more digitally 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 like vaping. Parents also need to be more accountable. Children get financial resources and support from home, yet in many cases, parents do not have time for their children. They try to compensate for this by giving them material things and making demands, both reasonable and unreasonable. This often leads to distraction and alienation. In my opinion, now is the right time. We need to wake up and focus on our children. We need to build an emotional connection with them, spend time with them and truly know them.