The role of innovation in reimagining the future of education

The above quote by Peter Drucker highlights a firmly held idea by several top educators and consultants. However, reality demonstrates otherwise, with an estimated 40 percent of employers finding it difficult to recruit people with the skills they need. Despite progressive views on education, action and impact seem to be two disparate entities, rather than one being a natural result of the other.  In a world faced by multiple challenges, it is extremely important to bridge the two and rethink education as a sector, listed on our to-do list for children.

We can no longer function with the learning approaches of the Industrial era. Education is a more than just going to school. It involves the coming together of so many social players to form a complex system, requires a set of shared goals, as well as strategic policies with holistic learning at its centre. And the opportunity lies right there – in the institution that connects all of these players through a wide range of touchpoints – be it in school activities, homework, extra-curricular activities, workshops, parent-teacher meetings, amongst many others.

We believe our educational institutions need to reimagine, reshape and rethink their current approaches, very successful for passing exams, but to review curricula, class structures, teaching methodologies and extra-curricular activities to embrace a future that is driven by those who are resilient, creative and agile enough to deal with uncertainty. Partnerships, mentor development and future-based programmes can go some way in reshaping an education sector to one that is adept, resilient and beneficial, for today and tomorrow.