Prioritised in Education Reforms in India: Inaugurating ‘Shiksha Samvad 2026’ at the Gokulam Park Convention Centre in Kochi, educationist and mathematician ATB Bose stated that education reforms in India introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) should be implemented only after verifying whether they are beneficial for children.
This conference is being organised to discuss current issues regarding education in unaided schools at the national level. ATB Bose remarked that principals and teachers should not blindly follow directives issued by education boards; instead, they should assess the necessity of proposed changes and submit their recommendations to the concerned authorities.
Discussing the shift from the Gurukul system (an ancient Indian residential model of education) to the British model (structured into sequential key stages and phases) of education, ATB Bose noted that this transition brought about a significant change in the nature of education. While the Gurukul system (an ancient residential tradition of education in India where students lived with their teacher (Guru) in an ashram to receive holistic learning) offered children a comprehensive and open environment, the British model (The British model of education is structured into four main stages: primary, secondary, further, and higher education) largely confined education within four walls.
ATB Bose (prominent Indian educationist, mathematician, and philanthropist) pointed out that the NEP is a policy framework, not a law passed by Parliament. Therefore, measures introduced under its banner, including changes to exams and training, should be evaluated based on their suitability regarding the age and needs of the children.
Bose stated, “The intense competition in entrance examinations like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) should not lead to an education system that places excessive emphasis on rote learning and memorisation. Greater importance should be given to creativity and other skills among students.”
On Tuesday, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala of Kerala will inaugurate the state-level conference under ‘Shiksha Samvad 2026’.
ATB Bose is a renowned Indian educationist, mathematician, and social worker dedicated to improving mathematics education and dispelling the “fear of math” (math phobia) among schoolchildren. He is best known as the co-founder and secretary of the ‘Ramanujan Museum and Math Education Centre’ in Chennai.
After graduating in Civil Engineering from the prestigious ‘College of Engineering, Guindy,’ Bose ventured into the fields of social service and education, dedicating several decades to creating inclusive learning environments and implementing modern reforms in schools.
