Summary
School-level education is one of the biggest facilitators of these skills, as students spend the longest period of their lives in this system
Students should be encouraged to broaden their entrepreneurial thinking as well as their ability to bring their ideas to fruition
The Indian Government has framed a new education policy to transform education and research, provide opportunities for lifelong learning, and make it more industry-oriented with an emphasis on entrepreneurship which will enable every student to reach their maximum potential. This, in turn, will move education from a vehicle of "sorting and selection" to a channel of "human development". The new education policy seeks to make the next generation more imaginative, original, proactive, pioneering, and prospect-focused.
Enjoying the advantage of having the world's largest youth population, India can very well be harnessing its human capital and building a society that is innovative, flourishing and sustainable. The government has been making budget provisions for the education sector to boost employability and capabilities, through skill development schemes like the Atal Innovation Mission. This is a good step in the right direction.
While the Indian government's recent initiatives have emphasised entrepreneurial thinking and creative approaches among students, implementation requires more customisation and intervention. It will take decades to promote entrepreneurial skills among future generations unless changes are made at the pedagogical level.
School-level education is one of the biggest facilitators of these skills, as students spend the longest period of their lives in this system, which forms the basis of their personality as individuals as well as professionals. Entrepreneurship teaches children to think outside the box and nurtures talents that gives rise to creativity and problem-solving. Therefore, by providing entrepreneurial learning opportunities at schools, we can bring about a major shift in the way the new generation is groomed for the future which will prepare them to find solutions to real-life challenges.
Besides incorporating in-demand skills in the curriculum, schools can also take other measures to ensure students are being shaped into entrepreneurs of future success. Here are 5 ways that can help schools inculcate creative and entrepreneurial thinking among students:
1. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) technique
The National Education Policy is encouraging educational institutions to move away from the traditional model of Linear Thinking that uses logic, data and existing solutions for problem-solving. It is instead encouraging student-centred, project-based learning that will involve methods and infrastructure that allows for better collaboration and encourages team spirit.
That is where the Problem-based Learning (PBL) technique comes in. It is a method that uses complex real-world problems as vehicles to promote learning concepts and principles that allows critical thinking. Such an approach will provide opportunities for students to team up to research, collaborate, engage and develop skills that can revolutionise the way things are done. A Flipped Classroom is a case in point, where traditional space is flipped to form a new creative zone for project-based learning.
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2. Upgraded curriculum
Entrepreneurship education provides self-reliance skills so students can carve their own career paths. Furthermore, it creates opportunity, ensures social justice, and instils confidence. The curriculum should emphasise on skill development, upgradation, and apprenticeship and expand efforts to link education with employability and entrepreneurial capabilities. Appropriate pedagogical changes will promote a deeper connection with these skills. Incorporation of subjects like Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management (HRM), Coding, Economics and other business-related subjects will help prepare the next generation to perform well in a wide range of entrepreneurial roles such as team leader and mentor. Students studying in Grades 5 to 8 can be taught basics, while students from Grades 9-12 should be taught in-depth business concepts. This will help the students learn business skills and entrepreneurship concepts at an early age, thus making them future ready.
3. Educational programmes
Schools should create more room in the curriculum to boost students’ creativity. A good example of that is hackathons, or leadership bootcamps, which will promote creative thinking among students. Such programmes can be team-based projects which involve healthy competition among students to encourage teamwork and inculcate the importance of the joint effort to ideate and create, besides identifying social challenges. The sessions should include tactical guidance, team selection, business modelling and how to pitch a business idea with confidence to real investors.
4. Mentorship
Great entrepreneurs have the capacity to inspire and motivate students to pursue their dreams. Educational institutes can organise mentorship programmes with industry experts to nurture and develop budding entrepreneurs. Leaders of various start-ups, firms, and industry experts from the business, technology, etc. can provide students with live sessions and mentorship programmes to prepare them for their career paths.
Moreover, schools can hire educators who have a specialised degree in business studies and administration to impart knowledge to students. Exposure to entrepreneurship early in life can have a huge impact on students, including a belief in self-sufficiency, resiliency, and creative problem-solving.
5. Centre for Entrepreneurship
One of the best ways in which schools can help inculcate creative and entrepreneurial thinking among students is by establishing Centres for Innovation, Excellence and Entrepreneurship to unify academia, make resources available for free, and fuel camaraderie among students to help them discover successful entrepreneurial models. Providing training through a well-designed programme will help students understand their capabilities and spark ideas and innovations from aspiring entrepreneurs. These centres will be the academic incubators which will help schools create a goal-oriented and entrepreneurial environment. and also help nurture a fledgling entrepreneur into a strong leader in future.
Such measures can take the student entrepreneurship programme to the next level.
It can be safe to say that more entrepreneurs can be created if schools help instil the entrepreneurial spirit by imparting the necessary knowledge and skills. Students can benefit from an entrepreneurship-focused education. It teaches them to recognise commercial opportunities, take calculated risks, and to never give up. Students should be encouraged to broaden their entrepreneurial thinking as well as their ability to bring their ideas to fruition. If the new NEP can achieve that, it would be the stepping stone towards the overall success of a structure that has a lot of promise and potential.
About the author: Mr. Ashwani Kumar Saxena, Principal GIIS Whitefield is a passionate educator and an efficient school administrator with a rich experience of 28 years. He believes that EDUCATION ILUMINATES WHAT LIES LATENT IN AN INDIVIDUAL, and educational institutions are the sanctuaries that guide students to the sea of knowledge, skill, technique and information that prepares them to be global citizens of tomorrow. He is accredited by the University of Cambridge, UK to conduct Computer Science assessments. He holds a Residential CIE certification from Robinson College, Cambridge, UK. He is also an active Inspector of Schools to grant affiliation.
Last updated on 12 Jan 2023
