Open Communication Between Parents And Educators Must Be Encouraged To Ensure Holisitc Development Of The Child.”- Manan Choksi
An interview with Ahmedabad based young and renowned educationist Mr. Manan Choksi, Founder, CEO of Udgam Consultancy and Executive Director of Udgam School For Children, Ahmedabad.
An interview with Ahmedabad based young and renowned educationist Mr. Manan Choksi, Founder, CEO of Udgam Consultancy and Executive Director of Udgam School For Children, Ahmedabad.
A team of eager and inquisitive young reporters representing The School Post, from Cosmos Castle International School, Ahmedabad had the unique opportunity to interview Mr. Manan Choksi. The School Post’s reporting of young reporters comprised of Miss. Kritika Rathi, Miss Pankti Dave, Miss Devanshi Vyas, Miss Harshavi Desai. The interview aimed to gain insights into the current state of education, challenges faced, and potential future developments. It is an initiative of The School Post where the students of one school interact with the principal/director/trustee of another school to understand their ideologies and best practices of their school and the take away is inspired and fresh ideas. At The School Post, we feel, such interactions will not only build up a healthy relationships among the various schools, but will also help in easing out and lowering the spirit of uneasy said and unsaid competition.
Key Highlights
As the main idea of the interview was to understand the Future of Education and his journey, he was asked what inspired and motivated him to enter the field of education. He believes that education like any other field required continuous reforms and being in this area for the last 44 years, he reckons that his seniority has become an asset for him. Furthermore, elaborating on his belief, he said that the sad story of India is that people believe money makes good schools whereas management makes a school good, and this he mentioned is his slogan for his work. Mr. Choksi made the young reporters comfortable and answered their every questions ranging various topics on:
What is more important, Degree or Skill?
Speaking not only for students, he rightly said that the holistic development of a human is important. Extremity of anything is harmful and enough focus on both degree and skill development can take anyone to the heights of their future. He emphasized skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and adaptability as essential for success in today’s ever-evolving market.
Technology and Social Media
Mr. Choksi emphasized the human’s inherent need for happiness and that the popular gratification desired by students is fuelled by social media. He said that there is a thin line between addiction and work management on social media. His daily routine focuses on media work as well, adding to his almost workaholic nature, he mentioned that pleasure is required by us all, and not all technology is bad but when pleasure takes over other important things, it becomes an addiction. He said, “Technology can make people smarter only when the people who make technology are smarter” when asked about his views on AI and its advancement in the technological field.
Modern and Indian Education
Mr. Choksi believes that people of the West and the East have to understand that being wrong is a huge possibility in any field. As huge believers of science in this age and era, we need to learn to adapt to change, in education as well, He emphasized that though our education system was one of the best, it requires evolution with the changing times, and as this generation forwards, the system needs to focus on inclusion of mental health education, talk about the battle of nerves, and motivate students to venture into areas that they are unaware and scared of.
Parental Involvement and Bonding with Teachers
Mr. Choksi discussed the role of parents in a students’ educational journey. He encouraged open communication between parents and educators to ensure holistic development. He also feels that teachers should not be stingy with appreciation. A child requires motivation and appreciation both to develop and believe in himself/herself. He reckons that appreciation from all sides, with enough amount of strictness if required, can provide a safe and fulfilling environment for a child to work to their utmost potential.
Philosophy of Balancing Between Education and Co-Curricular:
Mr. Choksi emphasized the importance of fostering a love for learning rather than focusing solely on grades. He advocated for an education system that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity. Along with harboring these skills, he focused his words on the importance of time management and how it is important not only for students but everyone to utilize their time well. Focusing on studying, exercise, and skill development with time for pleasure can lead to a better lifestyle.
The interview left the students inspired and motivated to rethink their approach to learning and education. Mr. Manan Choksi provided valuable insights into the future of education, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, skills, and holistic growth. The students expressed their gratitude for the enlightening conversation and left with a renewed sense of purpose in their academic pursuits.