Lt. Gen. Arjun Ray
CEO, Indus Trust

Gen (Retd.) Arjun Ray, PVSM, VSM is chief executive and managing director of the Indus Trust (regst.2001) that has promoted the top-ranked, IB (Geneva)-affiliated Indus International Schools in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune which have an aggregate 2,900 children from over 30 countries mentored by 450 teachers on their muster rolls.

Degree of satisfaction with forced switch to online learning. Notwithstanding poor IT infrastructure in India, and loss of more than one year of learning for most children, for the Indus International schools in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune, the pandemic has provided a valuable technology-driven learning experience.

With blended learning, i.e, conventional classroom education supplemented with digital support, set to become the new normal, we have developed best blended learning practices. For instance, by way of synchronous learning, i.e, compacting the syllabus and focusing on essentials. With the onset of the knowledge revolution driven by the Internet and new challenges of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, all curriculums need heavy pruning and focus on essentials, especially design thinking and digital fluency. I am fairly satisfied that our quick and sustained shift to online learning has sharpened the critical thinking skills and creativity of our students.

Main factors behind smooth switch to sustained online learning and classes. The key factor was our early realisation that online teaching-learning cannot be conducted in the same manner as conventional classroom teaching. To do so is counter-productive and harms student engagement. This awareness was followed by intensive research into online education and experimentation until we got it right.

Downsides of online education and percentage of learning loss. There are no downsides or learning loss. Digital-enabled learning is an alternative form of education that stimulates non-linear creativity and critical thinking. It’s important to appreciate that in the near future, corporations and business and other professionals the world over will be transacting most of their business remotely. It is wrong to compare digital with in-person face-to-face learning. It is like comparing Chinese and Mughlai cuisine! Both have their upsides. Therefore, the best solution is blended learning.

Should schools be reopened urgently? How prepared are IIS schools for on-campus classes?
Schools should reopen only when children are assured high degree of safety. There is need for caution, especially with the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic around the corner. Reopening school campuses and classes is dependent upon customer perspective, i.e, parents’ sentiments. Most parents, and rightly so, are not ready to risk the lives of their children, even if there is a fractional probability of danger to them. We have recently signed a partnership agreement with one of the country’s most respected hospital chains to ensure that all our teachers and staff are fully vaccinated and our campuses are completely safe. Meanwhile, it’s important that children are also vaccinated.

Advice to digitally under-served schools.
Of the 196 million children in elementary education, 146 million live in rural India, where IT infrastructure is almost non-existent. While it may be possible to provide them with cheap or re-furbished computing devices, the real challenge is Internet connectivity. This is what the Central and state governments have to provide them with. Right now, there is no evidence this challenge is being given serious attention. Massive loss of learning is happening in rural India which is likely to retard the cognitive and creative growth of a huge proportion of our children. It’s insufficiently understood in government and society that in the 21st century, international competition is not between political and economic, but education systems. In this emerging scenario, India is at a serious disadvantage.

Advice to the government to make up for lost learning during the pandemic.
The only solution is a national shift to new technologies-enabled blending learning, and compacting school syllabuses.

For the full Cover Story: 30 Eduleaders weathering covid tsunami