The last two years have been turbulent for children as schools have either remained closed for most months or functioned at less than half of the stipulated school hours. Agitated and conflicting arguments on re-opening of schools persist even as many segments of society and the economy have revived and regained normalcy. In a country of 1.38 billion, with 40% of the population below the age of 18, an impaired and disjointed access to education poses serious repercussions. 

Thanks to the poor availability of internet services in rural India and a visible digital divide, pandemic induced school closure and the transition to digital channels has led to a loss of critical school years and learning. A recent study titled “India Needs To Learn — A Case for Keeping Schools Open” published by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in January 2022 in collaboration with Teach For India, confirmed that, less than 30 per cent of India’s rural population had access to stable internet and approximately 40-70% children lack access to devices. In addition to dwindling educational levels, the impact of prolonged school closure extends beyond learning. As per the BCG report, approximately 35% of children were unable to access midday meals leading to a steep rise in the statistics of malnourished children in India. In many cases, this has also been accompanied by an increase in exploitation, social and emotional issues for children.   

While private urban schools are better equipped to deal with online education, educationists have highlighted that digital learning cannot be a substitute for traditional schooling. Over 80 per cent of the teachers interviewed expressed the difficulty of maintaining an emotional connection, and parents too are struggling with controlling excessive screen time, improper schedules and lack of academic discipline.  

In contrast to India, as per the BCG report primary and secondary schools stayed open for over 85 per cent of the time in China, 70-80 per cent in the US and 70-75 per cent in the UK in 2021. This necessitates a discussion on whether it is time for India to re-open schools. With the vaccine rollout for children in India only launched earlier this year and confined to the 15-18 year age bracket, some argue for schools to continue online in the interest of children’s safety. Other studies suggest that the contagion, if any, will be low even if schools are opened. Even as school managements grapple with covid protocols, there seems to be a strong view amongst teachers and students alike that online school can never replace the quality of teaching and interaction that exists in a physical classroom.  

How should policymakers address this conundrum? How high is the health risk if schools function at pre-pandemic capacities? Is there a need for schools to urgently open or should they open in a staggered manner? What are the long-term implications of this on children’s social development, emotional wellbeing and mental health? Are our schools prepared with the right infrastructure to follow safety protocols? Should India decentralize school re-opening and closure? 

Join us for a discussion with Director of Boston Consulting Group Seema Bansal, Founder of IndiaSpend Govindraj Ethiraj, Founder-CEO of Teach for India  Shaheen Mistri, Indian entrepreneur and cardiac surgeon Devi Prasad Shetty and Principal of Bombay International School Cyrus Vakil on February 16th between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm IST as we address the key issues around ensuring equitable, safe and holistic learning outcomes for a young India.  

This discussion is hosted in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) which recently published a report 'India needs to learn: A case for keeping schools open' in partnership with Teach for India.

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Seema Bansal leads Boston Consulting Group’s Social Impact practice in Asia Pacific and is a member of the firm’s People & Organization and Public Sector practice. She has worked extensively in financial services and telecommunications, focusing primarily on strategy, operational excellence, culture, and organization design. She is experienced in organization-related topics and has spearheaded BCG’s work on aspiration-driven transformation. In the social-impact and public-sector fields, Seema is particularly skilled in early, primary, and secondary education; food security and nutrition; skill-building; and governance within government agencies. Before joining BCG, Seema interned at Whirlpool India.

Govindraj Ethiraj is a television and print journalist. He is a media executive and entrepreneur whose public interest journalism ventures include IndiaSpend, FactChecker and BOOM. Previously, he was Founder-Editor in Chief of Bloomberg TV India, Editor (New Media) with Business Standard, and in various capacities at CNBC-TV18, The Economic Times and leading business magazines. He continues to anchor seasonal shows in the business, economy and financial markets space, on Indian broadcast television and on digital. Govindraj was named a 2018 McNulty Prize Laureate in recognition for his leadership with BOOM, IndiaSpend, and FactChecker. He is a Fellow of the Inaugural Class of Ananta Aspen’s India Leadership Initiative and the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and winner of the 2014 BMW Responsible Leaders Awards.

Shaheen Mistri is the CEO of Teach For India and serves as one of its founding board members. She is an Ashoka Fellow, a Global Leader for Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum, and an Asia Society 21 Leader. She has been a recipient of accolades such as the Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Development and Welfare of Women amongst others. Shaheen is on the board of The Akanksha Foundation which evolved from Akansha Centre that Shaheen founded in 1989. She also serves on the boards of Ummeed, The Thermax Social Initiatives Foundation, The Indian School Leaders Institute, and Design For Change, and is an advisor to the Latika Roy Foundation. She also serves as a committee member for the National Council for Teacher Education. 

Dr Devi Prasad Shetty is the chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya Limited. He is a cardiac surgeon and an entrepreneur. Dr Shetty is the Chairman, Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. He has also served as member Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India and Representative of President of India in the Board of Governors of Indira Gandhi National Open University. He was part of the International Advisory Group, a strategic advisory platform, invited by Japan Centre for International Exchange to address the global health agenda under Japan’s G-20 leadership during 2019-20. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Minnesota, University of Mysore and IIT, Madras. In the past, Dr. Shetty held positions in BM Birla Heart Research Centre, Kolkata and Manipal Heart Foundation, Bangalore. 

Cyrus Vakil is the Principal of Bombay International School. Earlier, for 18 years he served as an early pioneer of the IBDP in India, Mahindra UWC, where he headed Academics since 2000, was Deputy Head for over a decade. In the past, he has taught at Wesleyan University and Yale University. His work with the IBO has included school authorizations ranging from South Bombay to rural Malaysia, and being one of the co-founders of SAIBSA. He developed a curriculum at MUWCI that was then converted by the IB, in partnership with Howard Gardner’s Harvard Project Zero, into its first interdisciplinary EE — World Studies. Vakil has been part of the team of educators that devised the current National Curriculum Framework, chairing the Exam Reforms Focus Group.