Child-Centric Education : The Need of Time
Putting Students at the Heart of Learning
Are students dropping out, or are we just forcing them to drop out? - This question by Antony Nellissery, Head of EdIndia Foundation, invites us to reflect on how education can better meet the needs of every learner.
Situations of Classrooms in the Country:
The New Education (NEP 2020) recognizes the importance of personalized learning, aiming to reshape classrooms into spaces where everyone feels seen and heard. Child-centric education is a key step toward achieving this vision by making learning more engaging, relevant and inclusive for all learners.
But, despite all the reforms, India still grapples with a high dropout rate. According to UNICEF 1 in 5 primary students are leaving school prematurely. Which just raises the question of, ‘what are we missing in our approach towards learning, and how exactly can child-centric education be the answer to bridging this gap?’
Why Child-centric Education?
From the beginning of the 20th century, behaviorism has had an influence in the ethics of education. That’s why teaching of teachers has been always considered important in daily education-practices. The works of renowned theorists such as Skinner, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Bruner further reinforced the importance of placing learners at the center of educational practices, advocating for approaches that cater to students’ unique needs and abilities. Despite these long-standing ideas, traditional teaching methods often continue to focus more on instruction than on fostering active engagement among students.
According to Education Department of Delhi, child-centric education has demonstrated positive impacts on student engagement and learning outcomes. Under ‘the Happiness Curriculum’ program of Delhi government, implemented in over 1,000 Delhi government schools, reaches approximately 1.6 million students daily. Teachers and parents have reported improvements in students’ interest in academics and behaviour as a result of this program.
These examples highlight the effectiveness of child-centric educational approaches in enhancing student well-being and academic performance in India.
According to a report by RTE Forum published in 2023, more than 6 million Indian children between the ages of 6 and 13 are out of school, and nearly 34 % of government schools face a shortage of teachers (Ministry of Education, 2022). These startling statistics paint a grim picture of challenges the system faces. Despite the introduction of child-centric concepts as early as 1986 through the National Policy of Education, implementation remains inconsistent. The new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has reignited hope by recognizing the importance of personalized learning, but there’s still a long way to go.
At Sterlite Edindia Foundation, we are enabling the future teachers to manifest the vision of New Education Policy. We believe that education should be a holistic experience that nurtures the unique strengths and interests of each student. This approach not only fosters a deeper connection to learning but also helps children develop critical thinking, creativity, and a love for lifelong learning. Let’s explore how child-centric education is transforming classrooms and how it benefits both students and educators.
What is child centric education?
Child-centered education is an approach that focuses precisely on the needs, interests and abilities of students rather than following a rigid curriculum designed solely by the curriculum developers or policymakers. It involves personalized learning, where students are actively engaged in their learning process, encouraged to explore their curiosities, and given the tools to think critically. In this approach of teaching, learners are active participants, whereas in traditional teaching methods, students are just passive recipients of knowledge.
Reimagining Classrooms:
Traditional Teaching vs Child-Centric Teaching Approaches
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Role of Child | Passive recipient of knowledge. | Active participant in learning, exploring, and decision-making. |
Role of Teacher | Authority figure, primary source of knowledge, and instructor. | Facilitator, guide, and co-learner who supports the child’s interests and inquiry. |
Classroom Setting | Structured, formal, and uniform, with desks arranged in rows. | Flexible and dynamic, with learning spaces tailored to activities (e.g., learning corners). |
Use of Resources | Standardized textbooks and materials prescribed by the curriculum. | Diverse and experiential resources, including hands-on materials, real-world tools, and multimedia. |
Teaching Approach | Teacher-centered, lecture-based, and focused on rote memorization. | Child-centered, activity-based, and focused on experiential learning and critical thinking. |
Evaluation Methods | Standardized testing and grades to assess performance. | Continuous, formative assessments based on individual progress and skills. |
Curriculum Focus | Predetermined and rigid curriculum with little scope for flexibility. | Flexible and adaptable to the child’s interests, needs, and pace of learning. |
Interaction Style | Hierarchical, with limited student-teacher interaction. | Collaborative, encouraging open dialogue and mutual respect. |
Learning Goals | Focus on academic achievement and meeting standardized benchmarks. | Holistic development, including emotional, social, and cognitive growth. |
Pace of Learning | Uniform pace for all students regardless of individual differences. | Personalized pace of learning based on each child’s abilities and interests. |
These suggestions can transform the Indian education system without requiring heavy investments, focusing instead on creative and community-driven solutions.
Pedagogical Approaches that promote child centric Education:
At early stage
- Toy based pedagogy
- Story based Pedagogy
- Multisensory approach
- Concrete experiences and local contextualization
- Transactions in Mother tongue
At preparatory and Middle stage
- Experiential Learning
- Inquiry based Learning
- Multilingualism
- Integrated approach
- Concrete and abstract experience.
- Extensive Use of technology
- Assessments to be a tool of and for learning
Benefits of Child-Centric Education
- Embracing Uniqueness
Personalized approach is the most significant advantage of child-centric education. Every individual has different pace of learning, not at all children learn in the same way. Embracing personalized learning, educators can tailor lessons to which suits individual’s learning style, whether that means using visual aids for visual learners or hands-on activities for kinesthetic learners.
Personalized learning has been shown to improve student engagement and results. Students who took part in tailored learning programs outperformed their peers in reading and math by three to four months, according to a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation research. This has an especially major impact on communities with limited resources because access to high-quality education may be restricted.
- Adding Value to Diversity
Inclusivity is the core of child-centric education, which helps ensuring that every child, regardless of the background they are from or ability that they possess, has equal access to quality learning experiences. This includes accommodating students with special needs, offering tailored interventions, and fostering a classroom environment that celebrates diversity.
Inclusive education is about is about creating a nurturing environment where every child feels seen and valued it’s not just about academic success. In an inclusive classroom, students learn crucial life skills such as empathy, teamwork, and respect for others.
- Social and Emotional Development
Academic success is undoubtedly important, but emotional and social development is equally vital for a child’s growth. Child-centric education prioritizes building a child’s confidence, self-esteem, and interpersonal skills. By encouraging group activities, peer learning, and leadership roles, students not only gain knowledge but also develop important life skills that will serve them beyond the classroom.
According to research, students who participate in child-centric programs experience better emotional well-being. A report by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) found that students involved in social and emotional learning programs had a 25% improvement in academic achievement.
Story of Success
Child-Centric Education in Action
Many schools in the country have embraced the child centric education system, these systems have shown remarkable results. These schools serve as shining example of how transforming practices can lead to transformative student outcomes.
Some standout examples include schools in the country like, The Muktangan Education Trust, Mumbai (Maharashtra), The Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project, (Tamil Nadu) and The Riverside School, Ahmedabad (Gujrat) are implementing the unique model of child-centric education. In these schools, teachers work collaboratively with students to design learning experiences that are both meaningful and engaging. These initiatives are emphasizing experiential learning, with students participating in community engagement projects and environmental initiatives.
Take Muktangan School for instance, their active learning initiative has directly benefited over 3,800 students and trained more than 1,000 community members to become English-medium teachers. Over the past 11 years, an impressive 83% of their students have consistently secured first-class marks in the SSC examinations.
These success stories highlight, how innovative, inclusive, child- friendly educational project can demonstrate positive impact. It also shows that when ordinary people from local communities are empowered with the right skills and values, they can achieve extraordinary outcomes for children, creating a strong foundation for future generations
Scaling Child-centric Education, the Path Forward:
Teacher Shortage Crisis, Quality of Educators and EdIndIa’s Work:
India is currently facing shortage of well-trained educators, with reports from NITI Aayog, there are more than 8 lack vacant teaching positions across the country, this is practically impacting rural areas where some schools operate with only teacher which is significantly impacting the quality of education. According to report by National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021, More than 30% of the students at shrugging to access quality education due to limited resources and outdated teaching methods.
That’s why investing in ongoing professional development, creating a conductive school environment and promoting teaching as a desirable career choice add some of the things that can help us to solve this crisis.
Sterlite EdIndia Foundation as an organization is proud to support initiatives that are empowering Teacher educators to prepare the future teachers who will have understanding and would have practiced the pedagogical approaches that keep child and the center and prepare a lifelong learner. This commitment is reflected in our work to date, where we have collaborated with 44 Teacher Education Institutes, training over 10,734 Pre-service, In-service Teachers & KRPs across 6 states in the country. We Believe ‘every child in the country has access to quality education’ for that we are working on making ‘teaching an aspirational profession’.
Know more about our Teacher Education Program