Every positive action reinforced in a school contributes meaningfully to a student’s overall development. When values and manners are nurtured consistently, they shape personality in lasting ways. The belief that manners make us complete  forms the foundation of an environment where young people grow through encouragement, appreciation, and purposeful practice. One of the greatest gifts an educator carries is the ability to observe the good in people. This includes noticing t

The idea of a Human Library  often enters schools quietly through a conversation, a suggestion, or a moment of curiosity. In one such instance, the concept was introduced during a discussion with school leadership, sparking an exploration into an alternative library experience where people, rather than printed texts, become sources of knowledge. What began as an unfamiliar term soon revealed itself as a powerful educational practice, one capable of transforming a school libra

As principals, we co-create classroom values and agreements at the start of the year as a foundation-building process rather than a one-time activity. Instead of handing students a ready-made list of rules, teachers should be encouraged to involve students as active partners in shaping how their classroom community will function. This begins with guided conversations in the first week of school where students reflect on questions such as what helps them feel safe, respected a

Modern classrooms are increasingly inebriated by speed. This intoxication is not the result of overt espionage or covert reform, but of a gradual embedding of haste into everyday practice. This is a result of subtle adjacency of praise with quickness, through alluring metrics of efficiency, and through a fictitious belief that fast learning is superior learning. In this engulfing climate, the true privilege of education deep thought stands estranged. As educators gather in ev

As we step into 2026, many schools can confidently say they are well organised. Processes are defined. Policies are documented. Compliance is tracked. Timelines are met. And yet, beneath this efficiency lies a deeper question: Are our schools truly thinking organisations or simply well-managed ones? This question came sharply into focus for me in December, during an intense strategy meeting with the heads of our various education ventures and projects. For the first time in y

It was one of those mornings when the school corridor hummed with the usual rhythm: teachers juggling notebooks, students rushing for assembly, bells echoing like a metronome of speed. Pausing to observe this familiar scene raises a quiet but important question, are schools racing, or are they truly enabling learning? In a world obsessed with “fast,” education too has caught the fever, faster syllabus completion, quicker exam revisions, and instant results. Somewhere in this

Communication between parents and school plays a vital role in a child’s holistic development. When parents are well informed and involved, children feel more confident and perform better in academics and behaviour. As education continues to change, a school’s communication with parents will also go through a transformation. For the new academic year, communication must become simpler, more regular and meaningful. In the past, schools mainly depended on written notices, diari

As the year draws to a close, it offers us a rare pause – a moment to step back and at what we published, and more importantly, at what educators across the country were thinking, questioning and quietly negotiating . Over the past year, Mentor became less of a repository of answers and more of a listening space through stories that reflected the changing rhythms of schools, classrooms and leadership conversations. Speed One of the strongest themes to emerge was a growing dis

An “eternal boarder” by his own description, Saurav Sinha’s journey through education has been shaped by lived experience rather than linear ambition. From years spent in boarding schools to a corporate career and a return to education by what he calls destiny, his leadership at Mayo College, Ajmer reflects a deep belief in values-led schooling. In this candid reflection, he speaks about what boarding schools truly teach, how legacy institutions can remain future-ready withou

A confidence gap among students remains one of the most persistent barriers to academic success, engagement, and social development. While academic skills are undeniably important, a student’s belief in their ability to learn, contribute, and succeed is often the force that shapes their long-term trajectory more powerfully than raw ability alone. The start of the school year is a crucial window of opportunity. In those early weeks, classroom climate, teacher expectations, pee

The education sector is experiencing a remarkable transformation driven by advancing technologies, evolving student needs, and a growing commitment to inclusivity. Schools of the future are no longer just buildings where lessons are delivered, they are dynamic learning ecosystems. By integrating Artificial Intelligence, embracing innovative teaching practices, and fostering an inclusive culture, tomorrow’s schools aim to nurture confident, capable, and compassionate learners

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” — Albert Einstein In a quiet classroom, a Grade VIII student flips through her notes during an open-book test. There’s no anxious scribbling, no frantic memorization, just thoughtful reasoning. She’s tracing how Gandhi’s principle of non-violence connects to Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights philosophy. The educator smiles, realizing that this is what true learning looks like: curiosity in action, not cramming for ma

Some legacies are inherited, and others are shaped quietly by the people who build us. For Pradeep Baba Madhok, President of DALIMSS Sunbeam, that legacy began on construction sites where his mother, Mrs. Deesh Ishrat Madhok, built a school, brick by brick with Duty, Devotion, and Discipline, and in a home where his father, Dr. Amrit Lal Ishrat Madhok, filled every corner with poetry and philosophy. Standing at this intersection of grit and reflection, Madhok carries forward

In a world where change is the only constant, education must evolve to prepare students not just for exams, but for life, and the purpose of education must extend beyond textbooks and examinations. I believe that design education is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It empowers learners to think critically, act empathetically, and imagine solutions for a better tomorrow.  Design Thinking: A Mind-set, Not a Module Design thinking belongs everywhere—not just in art or technology

As educators, we believe that the most urgent future skill to embed in teaching is critical thinking so that students can approach complex, ambiguous problems with clarity and communication. This will enable clear and persuasive expression, collaboration and learning effectively as part of diverse teams. Critical thinking fosters adaptability and lifelong learning to remain flexible, resilient and self-motivated in a fast-changing world, and ethical & social responsibility to

“I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.” Isaac Asimov Computer literacy, as defined by Computer Literacy USA, is an understanding of the concepts, terminology, and operations associated with general computer use. It is the essential knowledge needed to operate a computer independently, which includes problem-solving, adapting to new situations, organising information, and communicating effectively with other computer-literate individuals. The term "Computer Literac

The emphasis on administrative metrics and standardized test scores diverts an educator’s focus from innovative teaching methods to teaching for compliance or text preparation, diminishing the quality of classroom engagement. This is primarily due to a substantial administrative workload that creates increased stress and burnout, impacting work-life balance, resulting in reduced productivity and motivation. The Non-Teaching Tasks Teachers work to impart knowledge, build life

Genius is an understatement when we refer to Srinivasan Ramanujam. Numbers were malleable to him; whole, integer or rigid. This was a man who had mastered trigonometry at the age of 13, but failed his Fellow of Arts exam in college because the only subject that appealed to him was mathematics; English, Physiology, and Sanskrit papers remained insipid to this complex mind. His independent research in mathematics stemmed purely out of his passion. Ramanujam saw the universe in

The world our students are growing up in is changing faster than ever. Mobile phones have become essential tools; libraries now sit in students’ backpacks in the form of laptops; and tablets are as common as notebooks. The digital world is no longer separate from the real one, it is the environment our students live, learn, and socialise in. Unsurprisingly, gaming has become one of the most dominant parts of that environment, especially as mobile access continues to rise. Eve

Socrates believed that learning begins in struggle, the kind of productive discomfort that stretches the mind. His method was never about presenting answers, but about provoking thought and allowing meaning to emerge through inquiry. Yet, in many of today’s classrooms, we seem intent on removing all struggle from learning. We simplify concepts, shorten lessons, and curate information until the thinking has been done for the child. With AI now providing instant summaries and r

Certain books become turning points in the journey of our lives as they shape a reader's world. Some books and characters mirror our lives, our beliefs, and philosophies, while others make us question everything we stand for. There are stories that leave an indelible mark on our lives for their intensity; many reflect on our messy realities, and some others shape our perspectives. Whatever the reason, one is not able to get over them, as they leave an emotional imprint and sh

Building Safer Schools: Addressing Violence and Bullying Educators carry a utopian vision in their hearts, a dream of seeing students live free, fearless, and fulfilled lives. A life where every child walks into school without the slightest worry of being judged, excluded, or hurt, and where learning blossoms in an atmosphere of mutual respect and kindness. The International Day against Violence and Bullying at School urges us to see classrooms not merely as spaces for academ

The deliberations in this article have come about from the myriad conversations and discussions with stakeholders of education; parents, educators, students and management to understand the National Education Policy (NEP), difficulties in its implementations, repercussions and the whole 9 yards.  For Life, Through Life & Throughout Life Mahatma Gandhi envisaged education as instructions preparing young learners to become morally sound, individually independent, socially const

Ritika Anand’s journey as an educator is one of passion, resilience, and a deep belief that education must shape both the head and the heart. From her early days at St. Mark’s, walking in as a young teacher with nervous excitement, to becoming a nationally recognised school leader, her story is filled with lessons that inspire. The Beginning of a Journey I still remember walking into St. Mark’s as a young woman, a little unsure but full of hope. My physics teacher had already