The Only Accessory You Wear is Confidence

Nayana Chowre, Sr. Principal of Velammal Group of Institution, Chennai, reflects on her journey in education and shares insights on incorporating the National Education Policy 2020 into the school's framework with Education Post’s Prabhav Anand. She discusses leveraging digital tools for teaching, addressing social issues, and fostering innovation among students for future readiness.

Q. Reflecting on your journey in education, could you share a personal experience or moment that has significantly influenced your approach to leadership and student development?

Born into humble beginnings, I remained deeply rooted in my origins, fostering not only a connection to my roots but also instilling a sense of humility. Despite witnessing friends enjoying greater privileges, I chose to channel my energy into hard work, learning a valuable lesson: "The only accessory one wears is confidence." I was always my own favorite, embracing individuality and constantly striving to surpass my own limits. 

My foray into the field of education was profoundly shaped by two pivotal teachings from my parents. My father imparted the wisdom of relentless work, regardless of its perceived worth, advocating belief in the broader process and continuous effort. Complementing this, my mother emphasized the importance of self-respect as the most valuable possession when carving out one's identity, urging against compromise for fleeting riches. Embarking on my journey as a coaching class teacher at the age of 12, initially driven by a love for role-playing as a teacher, little did I know that it would set the stage for a remarkable career.

Balancing studies and work, I became the youngest lecturer at a prestigious tutorial center, managing a multitude of Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary batches in my 20s. The pinnacle of my professional life unfolded when entrusted with the leadership of a Playschool in the early 2000s. Over the next 18 years, nurturing this educational venture from its infancy to Nest's Group of Schools was a profoundly spiritual and blissful experience. During this period, a defining moment presented itself – an offer to merge my school with a financially stronger institution, surrendering my brand and identity. Opting to remain true to my beliefs, I respectfully declined, choosing authenticity over a grandiose campus. This decision, while seemingly small, reinforced the principle of standing firm in one's convictions. Years later, I gracefully stepped down as the Chairperson, having witnessed the institution ascend to its deserved pinnacle. Beyond business dealings, I am recognized in the city as a strong, level-headed entrepreneur for my unwavering faith in everything I undertake. 

Today, my students, scattered across the globe, continue to regard me with the same respect they did when I was their Principal – a testament to what I have truly earned. This pivotal incident crystallized the realization that educators are not mere teachers; they are leaders shaping the future with a profound impact.

Q. With the recent introduction of the National Education Policy 2020, how do you envision incorporating its key principles and reforms into the educational framework of your institution to promote holistic learning and skill development among students?

Understanding the essence of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) is crucial before delving into its incorporation into our institution's framework. Key principles include:

• Recognizing and fostering unique capabilities of each student to promote holistic development.
• Eliminating rigid separations between subjects, curricular and co-curricular activities, and vocational and academic streams.
• Emphasizing conceptual understanding over rote learning.
• Promoting multilingualism and the power of language.

To seamlessly integrate these principles, I've outlined specific measures for our institution:

Holistic Approach:

Prioritizing holistic development by addressing both academic and non-academic facets of a student's growth.

Child-Centric Learning:

Tailoring our educational approach to suit individual needs and abilities, aligns with the child-centric focus of NEP 2020.

Customized Teaching:

Shifting towards conceptual understanding by creating personalized lesson plans based on students' strengths and weaknesses.

Early Childhood Education (ECE):

Representing one of the most prestigious groups of institutions from the state of Tamil Nadu, I'm glad to learn about this approach which involves incorporating the emphasis on the mother tongue, English and the national language, in line with Tamil Nadu's pedagogical approach.

Adhering to NEP 2020's 5+3+3+4 model, our institution focuses on five key pillars:

Personalised Learning: NEP 2020 expects every student to be catered to as per his / her own needs and abilities. Establishing a learning environment that primarily focuses on collecting data on the student's learning capabilities and individual progress, their strengths and weaknesses, are the ways through which Personalised Learning can be made possible. This data shall be used to create customised lesson plans and provide targeted support to students.

Collaborative Learning: NEP 2020 stresses on collaborative learning to focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students. Deliberately conducting classes that compel students to indulge in peer learning, group discussions in the form of community projects and research drives. This will help them gel with their peers and work towards achieving a target collectively as a Team rather than chasing Personal Growth in their lives.

Parental Involvement: Developing a cost-effective way of offering real-time updates on the progress of the students to their respective parents is the way ahead if Parents have to be made Partners of Education. The school forums/WhatsApp groups/notice boards are the techniques for a one-way communication from schools to parents, trying to involve parents in the day-to-day activities/whereabouts around the lessons taught and the progress of students shall enable the parents to communicate effectively with the teachers and will save more time in explaining them the same deal only during the Parent Teacher Meetings.

Resource Management: Teachers are the main resource of any education system and require specific management. Quantitative education development goals can be achieved more effectively and efficiently if teachers are planned, allocated, utilised and managed with care. Apart from which, inventory management, budgeting and scheduling too are the primary responsibilities of the school management. This will serve as a tool to support the interests of every stakeholder in helping the school grow simultaneously. I believe, if my student requires utmost care and sensitivity to grow up to his/her full potential, so does any of my teachers - they're both equally important for me, they're both my Responsibilities.

Hybrid Learning: We aren't new to this concept, having witnessed the school learning environment functioning amidst the new normal scenario of the Covid lockdown where every child, no matter where he/she resided, attended the Online School, with classes conducted by teachers, all from their respective homes. NEP 2020 does emphasize on flexible approach to education which is why I believe, I and my team should be ready to switch from offline to online education as and when situation shall demand to ensure the education isn't hampered and students actually are prepared to be future ready.

This comprehensive approach underscores my institution's commitment to aligning with the transformative principles of NEP 2020 for the holistic development of our students.

Q. In today's technologically-driven world, how has your school embraced digital tools and platforms to enhance teaching methodologies and improve student engagement in the classroom?

In our fast-paced lives, technology is like a game-changer, shaking things up in every part of our world. When it comes to education, it's not just about keeping up; it's about leading the way for our institution to grow in every way. That's what Velammal is all about – not just following trends but really getting why educational technology matters.

Forget the usual stuff like digital whiteboards or learning systems; our tech game at Velammal goes way beyond that. We're talking about top-notch tools, immersive digital experiences and ground breaking solutions that make learning way more exciting.

While everyone's figuring out this tech-in-education thing, Velammal is out there, taking the lead. It's not just about using cool gadgets; it's about changing the whole education scene, making innovation and teaching fit together like a perfect puzzle.

We're not just into technology for the sake of it. At Velammal, we get that tech is a game-changer, transforming education itself. We're all about using technology smartly, making sure every step we take with it helps our institution get even better.

In this new era of education, Velammal is all about smart learning. We're weaving together the best of old-school wisdom and the latest tech to make sure our students are ready for whatever comes their way. It's not just education; it's a whole new way of learning for a brighter future.

Q. Social issues such as bullying, mental health challenges, and student diversity can impact the learning environment. How does your school address these issues to create a safe and inclusive space for all students?

Depression among kids never existed back when I was in school. Had we used any such phrase, our parents would've put us in our place. But then again, 30 years back, the world was still a better place, kids had healthy friendships, Facebook and Instagram didn't decide their fate, and we would fight one day only to reconcile the next day.

The current times with the aggressively fast-paced world have exposed children to many evils which we weren't even aware existed, as kids.

I'll present a couple of examples of what according to me is ideal to ensure having a safe space for my students.

I remember one of my conversations with a gentleman from San Jose, California. He owns a company that has dedicated its past many years to identifying and rectifying any kind of bullying back in the States, where the gun controls are lenient. Having gone through testimonials that reflected students who actually carried guns in school - their journey from being vulnerable to their absolute mental healing, was so inspiring.

This gentleman has designed an app that acts as a whistleblowing forum for students and teachers of the said school. The USP of this project is end-to-end anonymity of the individual reporting an incident to the school management of physical/mental/cyberbullying. Once the trigger is sent and registered, the school initiates the necessary steps in identifying the bully, involving him in more of counselor sessions, mental health building activities etc without entirely confronting them about their act. If such vigilance and right action can prevent a student from using firearms, it can certainly uphold the safety of Indian schools.

Speaking about mental health issues/anxiety /depression - there can be no better way than being sensitive with such students. For example, if a student is creating havoc in class, and isn't allowing the teacher to complete their class, it might be possible that the child is having an anxiety attack, understanding the gravity of the situation and allowing the child to be in their space for a while would be of great help.

Again, this will be taken well care of, with the incorporation of NEP 2020 and its feature of personalised teaching.

Q. Considering the ever-evolving educational landscape, what initiatives or strategies is your institution implementing to foster innovation and adaptability among students, preparing them for the demands of the future job market?

We, at Velammal Group of Institutions, aim to foster a dynamic environment by championing innovation and providing learners with opportunities to experiment and explore new solutions. This approach will help cultivate a culture that recognizes adaptability as a strategic advantage. In today's rapidly changing landscape, the ability to innovate swiftly in response to market demands is crucial for organizational progress and lays the foundation for a future-ready workforce.

Encouraging a culture of innovation is pivotal. I constantly inspire my teachers to think creatively, challenge the status quo and propose new ideas. Organizations that value innovation and create an inclusive environment for idea-sharing are better positioned to tackle complex challenges and drive positive change. In this process, I like to indulge myself as a Learner at many times, as I myself explore so many new possibilities of having better strategies to drive these innovations.

In the face of future complexities, adaptability and innovation emerge as key differentiators in developing a future-ready workforce. I am committed to instilling the ability to adapt to change and embrace innovation, enabling organizations to thrive in dynamic environments, drive positive transformation, and create a lasting impact. This approach ensures that all learners under my guidance are well-prepared for the future. 

A living example of which is one of our most invaluable assets - Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa the Indian Chess Grand Master, a chess prodigy, second youngest to become the International Grand Master at the age of 12. Velammal beams with pride as our alumni, our very own star kid became the 'World's Youngest Player' to reach the Chess World Cup Final, second Indian to do so after Viswanathan Anand.