Revolutionising education: Skill-based learning for tomorrow’s innovators

Sumit Balwan school in Pune

Skill-based education was already part of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) even before the New Education Policy (NEP). Now, other boards are also embracing this unconventional education approach before Std XI.

The state board offers schools the flexibility to move their focus away from conventional subjects like maths, history, and English. Instead, they can focus on personality development, green energy production (to tap into the market projected to rise by 400 per cent in 2040), practical application of financial literacy, and various vocational skills. Some of these skills include embroidery, eco-friendly and bamboo product-making, soap-making, sustainable agriculture (hydroponics, soil testing, organic farming), plumbing, electrical work, and 3D printing.

One such school that has integrated unconventional subjects is Sumati Balwan school in Pune. Nitin Ghole, secretary of Sumati Balwan school, said, "These subjects foster creative and critical thinking, making graduates more capable of innovative problem-solving."

mid-day observed a class at Sumati Balwan where students were making ‘sewai' while also learning about return on investment for each ingredient in the dish. Additionally, they calculated the percentage profit of their labour. Vinod, a Std IX student, said, "If it wasn't for this course, I would have not understood my value and I would have been cheated and paid less than my effort in my work life." The school encourages open classrooms, and students study in a tree house designed by themselves. They also engage in various projects, such as creating a sound amplifier from bamboo and using a 3D printer to make a magnetic glass cleaner.

Anjali Bowen, principal of Ryan International in Mumbai, said that this form of education redefines the concept of mistakes. "Teachers facilitate learning rather than simply teaching, encouraging students to self-evaluate and take responsibility for finding the right answers on their own," she said.

The official state board's syllabus emphasises not only intellectual development but also physical, emotional, social, and spiritual growth. It acknowledges the importance of self-identity during adolescence, a critical period when teenagers start asking, "Who am I?" Khushi Chitnis, a graduate of Sumati Balwan, credits Sumati Balwan for teaching her how to handle stress, manage conflicts, and improve her concentration.

Students conduct a practical experiment, at Sumati Balwan school

Chitnis proudly states that she is the first person in her family to receive an education, as Sumati Balwan charges a nominal fee of only R2,500. Thanks to the school's teachings in HTML and C language, she is pursuing computer engineering with confidence, well-prepared for the challenges of the IT field.

Principal Sonali Bagade said that after graduating from the 10th standard, many students end up in fields that may not be their true calling. "Sumati Balwan's curriculum equips students with valuable skills such as plumbing, electrical work, and construction, helping them make more informed decisions when choosing higher studies," she added.

"Girls are taught self-defence Karate, about sexual offences, the difference between ‘good touch and bad touch,' the making of sanitary pads, and understanding menstrual health," she said. "We started as an orphanage in 1999 with three children. We realised that ‘true responsibility' and the rehabilitation of a child is undertaken through innovative education, so we introduced it in our setup. Working with children who have faced trauma since infancy, we recognised that individuals with such backgrounds need not be pushed towards unhealthy paths and neglected by society.

Instead, with proper education in respectable crafts and fields, they can thrive. Creating a family-like atmosphere that focuses on the basic needs of a child to be heard, valued, and loved, we now have 600 students. Our journey began with 192 students in 2010 and grew to 225 students in 2014," said Dr Sharayu Ghole, founder of Sumati Balwan.

"We embrace the idea that 10 incorrect answers can pave the way to one groundbreaking solution that can change the world. If students are shut down after their second incorrect answer, how can greatness be born?" said Nitin Ghole.