Education needs reform.

There is plenty of room for doing things differently up to Class VIII in India when the Boards take over.  In many countries, the same flexibility does not exist.

Nevertheless, teachers continue to teach to the textbooks designed by publishers. Moreover, traditional assessment systems compare students with one another, whether undertaken as continuous evaluation, term or unit tests or exams, whether grades are given or marks. Since a significant number of children do not “make it to the top”, they feel from very early on they are not good enough. Those at the bottom of a class do not feel endorsed and the toppers rest on their laurels and waste productive time. Everyone is not challenged and supported at their level.

Since 2000 in Iceland a new experiment has been going on led by Dr Sunita Gandhi. It has shown it is entirely possible to do things differently, without adding to teacher’s already heavy workload. With a new premise of education based on the premise of “compete with yourself”, along with personalised learning materials that fit like a glove every child’s personal needs, it is entirely possible to rejuvenate education and unleash a new spirit in it. There is no way to show this is better or different except by experiencing it. We invite you to implement GEMS in at least one class and witness the difference for yourself!

Since everyone sings to the tune of assessments and since education happens largely around textbooks, these are the two most urgently needed areas of reform up to Class VIII.