Latest news with #NEP-aligned
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Halfway through session, classes V and VIII students go without NCERT textbooks
Chandigarh: It has been three months since the beginning of the new school session and summer break is also over. However, Class V and Class VIII students in government schools across Chandigarh are still waiting for several updated NCERT textbooks. Despite repeated assurances and advance payments by the education department, the books are yet to arrive in many schools, forcing teachers and students to rely on stopgap arrangements. This delay is not new to the city's school system. In March-April 2024, parents and students in Chandigarh struggled to find NCERT books for Classes III and VI. There were no stocks in bookstores till mid April, 2024. This has been the pattern over successive years after the rollout of NEP-aligned content, leading to repeated disruptions in critical middle school grades. The shortage is most severe in Classes V and VIII, which are part of the phased rollout of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020-aligned textbooks. In Class V, only English and Hindi books are currently available. Mathematics and Environmental Studies (EVS) are missing. In Class VIII, English textbook is available while Hindi and Science books are still awaited. To make matters worse, several subjects, including Class VIII Sanskrit, Social Science for Class V, and Mathematics for Class VIII are not even available on official and online platforms, leaving schools with no access to revised content. "It's July and we still don't have the new textbooks," said a government school teacher in the city. "For some subjects, we are using last year's books. For others, we're giving handwritten notes or projecting content from earlier versions." Parents too are growing anxious, saying that children are relying on digital content. Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, director, school education, said that the government is aware of the delays and is working closely with NCERT to expedite delivery. "We are in constant touch with NCERT and advance payments have been done already. Text is being updated and that is why it takes time. We have book banks in schools and we see to it that students do not lose out on education," he said. Officials have advised schools to make do with existing materials and digital content where possible.
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
95% of Karnataka schools adopt new teaching methods, but student learning and inclusion gaps persist
95% of Karnataka schools adopt new teaching methods, PARAKH report reveals. Karnataka is leading the shift toward modern classroom instruction, with a majority of teachers adopting diverse, activity-based teaching methods. According to the latest PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) report, 95 percent of schools in the state have embraced experiential learning, while 96 percent are implementing competency-based assessments, marking a significant transition in how students are being taught. The findings, drawn from the PARAKH Rashtriya Samarthan Sarvekshan, show that Karnataka is also advancing in the integration of other pedagogical practices: Arts-integrated learning: 85 percent Toy-based learning: 82 percent Sports-integrated learning: 79 percent These figures reflect the proportion of teachers who reported using these methods either 'regularly' or 'sometimes.' The data signals widespread adoption of NEP-aligned pedagogies that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and learner engagement. However, the report also draws attention to gaps in outcomes and equity, raising questions about how effectively these new strategies are impacting student learning. Learning levels still below expectations Despite the promising uptake of progressive teaching methods, the PARAKH data reveals a sobering reality. In state-wide assessments conducted across Grades 3, 6, and 9, less than 50 percent of students were able to answer questions correctly in several key competency areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo These performance levels suggest that a large number of students are not meeting grade-level learning expectations. The gap between teaching reform and student outcomes highlights the need for stronger implementation, better monitoring, and targeted academic support. Learning gaps at foundational stages can snowball into long-term academic setbacks if not addressed early and effectively. Inclusion continues to lag in many schools The report also highlights challenges in delivering inclusive education, especially for Children with Special Needs (CWSN). While over half the students reported receiving help from teachers or peers, school-level infrastructure and professional support remain limited. Key findings from the Karnataka data include: Only 36 percent of schools offer special accommodations for CWSN Just 30 percent have trained or certified teachers for special needs support Only 33 percent of schools provide assistive devices 50 percent offer access to special study materials Although peer and teacher support is present in many classrooms, the lack of institutional preparedness continues to limit full inclusion. Students with disabilities are still dependent on individual effort rather than systematic support. Urgent need for deeper reform The PARAKH report makes it clear that Karnataka has made notable progress in updating its pedagogy. Yet, it also underscores that pedagogical innovation alone is not enough. Without improved learning outcomes and stronger inclusion mechanisms, the larger goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will remain out of reach. Moving forward, Karnataka will need to: Train teachers to use diverse pedagogies effectively Regularly assess and respond to student learning gaps Expand inclusive education infrastructure and staffing Ensure that pedagogy and assessment are aligned with learning recovery strategies Karnataka's education system is clearly in transition. But for this transformation to be meaningful, it must reflect not just in how teaching happens, but in how deeply students learn — and how equitably schools serve every child. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Mint
11-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
S Chand's quiet masterclass: How a legacy publisher outmanoeuvred the edtech bust
MUMBAI: At a time when India's leading edtech firms are struggling with job cuts, financial write-downs, and investor fatigue, the 75-year-old S Chand and Company is providing a valuable lesson in measured and sustainable reinvention. The legacy education content publisher posted a 65% jump in operating income in FY25 and ended the year with over ₹100 crore in cash reserves, without raising fresh capital or going all-in on digital pivots. In an exclusive interview with Mint, Saurabh Mittal, chief financial officer of S Chand, said the company's focus has been clear: resist the hype, avoid overextension and double down on content that works across formats—print and digital alike. Also read: Education, manufacturing transformation key to India becoming developed: NITI Aayog chief executive 'Education is a staircase business, not an elevator business," Mittal said. 'We'd rather grow 8% and generate ₹100 crore in cash than chase 20% growth with just ₹50 crore in profits." The company's approach stands in contrast to the aggressive expansion and high burn rates that defined much of India's edtech sector in recent years. While players like BYJU's and Unacademy raised billions to build full-stack platforms, S Chand chose to stay conservative by cutting inefficiencies, expanding its digital content library and preparing its backend systems for modular deployment. Reinventing without the noise Delhi-based S Chand hasn't built its own tech platform. It hasn't acquired flashy startups. It doesn't spend on advertising. And yet, it has emerged from the Covid years leaner, more profitable and more agile. 'Our tech stack is fully consolidated, but we haven't tried to build it ourselves," Mittal said. 'Enough vendors are building good tools. We focus on content and let tech specialists handle distribution layers." The company's digital content library has expanded by nearly 30% over the last two years, with new content across national-level education boards CBSE, ICSE and NEP-aligned curricula. Test-prep material, tie-ups with educational YouTubers and QR-enabled Google Lens (image recognition technology) integrations are also part of the growing ecosystem. Print, however, remains the mainstay. 'K–8 books still drive the bulk of revenues," Mittal said. 'Despite the noise, most schools that switched to tablets have moved back to print. Books are cheaper, simpler to use and less distracting." Betting on NEP The ongoing implementation of India's National Education Policy (NEP) and new curriculum frameworks is proving to be a structural tailwind. As National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks are updated and state boards begin aligning their syllabi, S Chand is often a first mover in content creation. Also read: Implement educational reforms in honour of Dr Kasturirangan (1940-2025) While Mittal acknowledged that states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Karnataka have resisted adopting the NCERT framework, he described the overall NEP-driven rollout as a tailwind. 'We already created NCF (national curriculum framework)-based content two years ago. Now we're mapping it to the actual NCERT textbooks as they come out," he said. The NEP 2020, which replaced the previous National Policy on Education of 1986, is a comprehensive education policy that aims to transform India's education system from early childhood to higher education. The NCF provides a roadmap for how to implement NEP's vision in classrooms through curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessment practices. The company is also looking to fill white spaces in its portfolio via selective acquisitions. Two potential targets are under active consideration—one in the exam-prep segment and another focused on international curriculum content such as Cambridge or International Baccalaureate (IB), areas where S Chand currently lacks scale. But the CFO is clear: valuations must be reasonable. 'Some players expect 2x revenue valuations. That's unrealistic in this category unless there's exceptional growth or margins," he said. 'We're not paying a premium when we ourselves are trading below that." Not competing, just enduring In many ways, S Chand's strategy is not to directly compete with high-decibel edtech brands, but to endure alongside them. The company positions itself as a content-first, platform-neutral player. 'We don't see ourselves competing with BYJU's or Physics Wallah," Mittal said. 'We're not trying to be a tech company. We're an education content company that delivers across formats." That stance has also helped the company sidestep the challenges faced by venture-funded edtech platforms, many of which expanded rapidly during Covid and are now cutting costs or winding down verticals. Also read: Despite high income, HNIs in India struggle with financial goals like retirement planning, childrens education: Report 'There was a lot of FOMO (fear of missing out) and hype during the pandemic. But learning outcomes were not always great. In fact, many schools and countries like those in Scandinavia have gone back to physical classrooms," Mittal noted. The company also avoids large marketing campaigns or brand-led spends. Growth is driven primarily by school relationships, workshops and teacher-enablement programmes. 'We do over 4,000 teacher workshops a year. That's where our impact is felt," he said. Preparing for the next decade Mittal acknowledged that higher education textbooks have seen a decline, with college students increasingly going digital. But the K–8 market, he said, remains resilient. For older students (Classes 9–12), hybrid learning is gaining some traction, but the overall addressable market is relatively small compared to early school years. Importantly, S Chand's content is already structured to go digital when required. 'Every book we create now has videos, assessments and platform-readiness built in," Mittal said. 'If a school wants to switch tomorrow, we're ready." Even though it has explored monetizing its digital intellectual properties (IPs) or spinning off subsidiaries in the past, the company is now focused on internal consolidation. 'We're merging entities back to stay efficient. Raising funds just for the sake of it doesn't make sense," he said. Re-engaging with investors Having stayed quiet on the investor front in recent years, S Chand is now preparing to re-engage with capital markets. 'We wanted first to deliver consistent results. Now that we've done that, it's time to go out and grab more eyeballs," Mittal said. After decades in print and a public listing in 2017, the company's current evolution is quiet, yet noteworthy, characterized by a lean, profitable and selective approach. While the edtech giants chased velocity, S Chand stayed grounded and is now reaping the dividends.
