Bijo Kurian is principal of the CAIE (UK)-affiliated Witty International School, Malad, Mumbai, since 2001. A law graduate of Mumbai University and English literature postgrad of Kerala University, Kurian has held several positions within the Witty group of institutions including chief of schools and member of the core management team.

Are you satisfied with the Union Budget 2018-19 allocation of Rs.85,010 crore for education? 

The Central government’s education budget has been marginally increased with higher education being the primary focus. However, efficiency of expenditure is the major problem. For instance despite levying an education cess for several years now, there is no visible improvement in public education. Investment in infrastructure, digital teaching aids, teacher training, curriculum reform, skills training and research and development needs to be much greater.

What are your Top 5 suggestions for reforming K-12 education?

High-quality teachers and school leaders. We need to adopt policies to attract, prepare, support, reward, retain, and advance high-quality teachers and school leaders. Teacher training programmes need to be completely revamped to enable teachers to educate 21st century learners.

Assessment. The need to move from rote learning to application-based learning is overdue. Exams have become severe stress points. We need to adopt a stress-free assessment system which tests real and not rote-learning.

Curriculum flexibility. School curriculums should be flexible allowing students to pick and choose their subjects. Curriculums should also instill civic sense, disaster management, traffic education etc. 

Skills-based learning. Focus on skills education in schools through introduction of an enrichment hour to help develop students’ soft skills.

Visual learning. Introduce visual, technology-aided, analytical, participatory and comprehension-based pedagogies. Analysing and applying knowledge rather than collecting information is critical for success in workplaces of the future.