Blog

Part One: When Education Began to Change

Written by: Sumita Acharya (Head, Department of English)

There was a time when the definition of a "good school" seemed relatively simple. Strong board results, disciplined classrooms, strict routines, and academic consistency were considered sufficient indicators of educational excellence. Parents evaluated institutions largely through percentages, ranks, and reputations built around examination success. But somewhere over the years, the world around education changed first.

As Sir Ken Robinson once observed, "The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn't need to be reformed — it needs to be transformed."

As someone who has spent more than two decades teaching at Birla High School, Kolkata, I have had the rare privilege of witnessing this transformation from close quarters. Classrooms evolved from chalkboards to smart boards, libraries expanded into digital learning spaces, and students transitioned from handwritten assignments to AI-assisted research and online collaboration.

Yet the most striking transformation has not been technological. It has been human.

The questions parents ask today reveal this shift very clearly. Earlier, conversations revolved almost entirely around marks, streams, and examination preparation. Today, parents increasingly ask: Will my child feel emotionally secure here? Will he learn confidence and communication skills? Will the school help him become a good human being — not merely a successful student?

These questions matter because the world children are preparing for is more uncertain and complex than ever before. Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries. Social media influences identity and self-worth. Students face pressure not only to succeed academically but also to excel socially, creatively, and emotionally. In such an environment, education can no longer remain confined to textbooks and examinations alone.

To be continued...

The Soul of Birla High Schooling :  Screens, Scores, Smart — Yet Sensitive

Part Two: What Classrooms Cannot Always Capture

One of the biggest realizations I have had as a teacher is that children rarely grow through academics alone.

Some of the most remarkable transformations I have witnessed happened entirely outside traditional classroom instruction. Students who struggled quietly within academic settings flourished once they discovered debates, dramatics, coding, sports, environmental initiatives, or leadership activities. Hesitant boys gradually became articulate speakers through assemblies. Students discovered confidence through robotics competitions and emotional resilience through creative expression.

Often, report cards never fully reveal a child's true potential.

This is precisely why holistic education matters so deeply today. At Birla High School, learning has gradually expanded beyond conventional academic boundaries. While academic rigor remains central, equal importance is now given to creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and experiential learning.

Classrooms themselves have changed significantly. When I first began teaching, education was largely teacher-centered — information flowed primarily in one direction. Today, classrooms have become more interactive and participative. Students engage in discussions, collaborative projects, research-based activities, and interdisciplinary learning experiences that prepare them for real-world complexity rather than examination formats alone.

(POSTED ON 4TH AUGUST, 2026)