‘For the greater good’ is the principal tenet through which a woman embarks on her educational journey. Her vision is not blinkered only to attain a degree but to educate and empower everyone she meets on the long winding road called life. One such educator who stepped into the field of education with service as her motto is Satinder Kaur, Director, TM International School, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. “The purpose of education is not just to produce academicians but humane and sensitive citizens” is her maxim.
Mentor shares her prolific journey in redefining leadership and expanding the access to education for several aspirants in Bharatpur.
Her Journey
“The binary precept of education is the unison of all the educators’ freshest minds and insightful thoughts, holding ‘time’ in hand” says Satinder Kaur. Her Journey into the field of education began as a natural extension of her core capabilities. She was of the opinion that proper education would invigorate the educational environment in Bharatpur. Unrefined administrative support and absence of latest tech gadgets stymied the progress of schools towards achieving excellence in Bharatpur. On the other hand for the city’s teens, there were innumerable institutes in Kota but fewer options in their vicinity. For Satinder Kaur and her institution, the perception was to impart science ingenuity to the wards of residents of Bharatpur which was initially not available.
Inspiration and Support
The education philosophy of her institution is rooted in the spiritual adage, a Shabad, ‘Vidya Vichari Tan Parupkari’ by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, which means that ‘True Learning Induces in the Mind, Service to Mankind’; with the purpose of education focussed towards gaining wisdom and self-realization. In terms of support system, Satinder Kaur recalls that her parents laid a strong foundation for her empowerment. Being highly learned themselves, their unwavering belief in her instilled a confidence and self-reliance, enabling her to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and determination. Kaur is also grateful for the support of their institution’s founder chairman, Sardar Tara Singh who was a visionary and luminary for social causes. The all-time modest among immodest sources and support is her better half, Sardar Heera Singh, blessed with the “Einsteinian reflexes and unbridled educational foresight” for the school, as an extension for a peaceful society.
Leadership Philosophy
“We as modern day educators need to redefine and redirect leadership based on self-understanding and awareness aligned to the limitations and capabilities of students” opines Satinder. Team spirit, righteousness, aim and orientation are the key leadership features. She feels that governance and pedagogy should strongly focus on a student centric aim, orientation, and should be ready to hand-hold and pat their backs to inspire the creative minds. The parental pressures, expectations from school and their wards are disproportionate to real time ground realities which should be curbed, says Satinder Kaur.
Indian Education System
The Indian education system has contributed to the world’s largest democracy through its pedagogy and curricula, preparing the students for the challenges of this fast-moving digital world. Satinder Kaur feels that the current education system is undergoing significant reforms; there’s a growing focus on experiential learning, incorporating practical skills in NEP2020. “It is moving away from rote learning and encouraging students to analyse information and develop their own solutions providing an access to a plethora of resources. “Yes, we should be open to borrowing ideas from other countries but it is important to remember that simply copying another system won’t work” adds Kaur. She remarks that the key is to identify specific aspects of other systems that align with India’s unique needs and values, and then adapt them to fit the local context. Ultimately, the goal is to create an education system that fosters life-long learners, critical thinkers and responsible citizens who can contribute to the growth and development of the country.
Carving a Career Path
According to Satinder Kaur, in today’s changing world, career is not linear but with guidance and proper counselling students can define their trajectory towards their aim. To give tangible examples, her institution organises career orientation programs in the school by bringing in experts with diverse industrial expertise and knowledge. . We instill discipline and responsible behaviour that develop perspectives and vision about their careers and life from middle school itself” says Kaur. She shared that students in her school are encouraged for open discussions and are provided individual guidance to help them navigate through their anxieties and uncertainties. “We offer ongoing support which provides resources and guidance even after students have made their specialization choices, such as career counselling services and mentorship programmes. Alumni mentorship has yielded tremendous result” beams Kaur.
For the Educator
“The need of the hour is to heal rather than hurry, feel rather than deal, inspire hope, happiness and ignite imagination instill love for learning” affirms Satinder. Fostering a supportive and collaborative environment promotes open communication which encourages open dialogue between teachers, administrators and support staff is her suggestion to the school community. “Teachers should be recognized and appreciated for their efforts and achievements. Management should value educators’ expertise and their educational contributions” states Kaur.
Conclusion
“India is a great country. The future of Indian education is bright. It depends on dedicated and passionate educators who embrace the challenges, innovate and inspire the next generation of leaders and change makers” feels Satinder Kaur. She observes that technology will play an increasingly vital role in education from online learning platforms to AI powered tools to virtual and augmented reality applications. She confers with the credible code of credence for the modern educators to be ethically sound, monumentally focussed, compassionate to the courage of underage & their understanding world & worldview as work in progress.
Long live educators in their universe.
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