The on-going conflicts that involve air strikes, drone attacks across borders be it close to home or in far away countries warrants a reflection about a world that is evolving and the future the little ones growing up will embrace as they become adults. The spiralling uncertainty and fear that arises as you hear breaking news about an ‘invasion’, or consume what is trending on social media which talks about loss of lives is both terrifying, and makes you feel helpless. We aren’t hearing about building new ideas or creating solutions, we are hearing about violations of laws that were designed to create harmony in the world among neighbours in particular.
As educators, we have to be thinking of what this uncertainty will mean to our current and future generations, and what it does to their mental health. Someone’s brother or sister is caught in ‘no-man’s’ land and while we assume it is someone’s problem, and where we are, we are safe, it does raise many questions about the sanctity of the word ‘safe’.
From the 50’s, we moved away from discussions of war and destruction, invasions and loss of lives for the wars had ended to concrete ideas about growth. Less than a 100 years later, we are faced with the same narrative with more severity, more intensity because back then AI didnt exist.
So how does all this leave the children who are watching world events, feeling? Their questions about respect for laws, and privacy, human rights and safety will hit us hard, and as their guardians, we must respond responsibly so that the hatred does not manifest into something more dangerous for our children’s children.
As educators, we need to be cautious and mindful of our facts, and be prepared to lead discussions moderating them so that our children’s questions are not dismissed and answered by some AI response but by us as living, thinking, responsible and compassionate adults. These discussions dont involve us internalising what this means, thinking about decoding information and helping children make sense of this so that is it not forming a judgement but aimed as problem solving or ‘something to be learnt from.’
I was in conversation with a few 20s year olds and some whose schools that invested time and effort over the years to engage with them had such well thought of responses- measured and dignified. Some were plain clueless about what is happening in Bangladesh or Ukraine. Some on the other hand were they were ‘safe’ in their home-land and their more immediate focus was completing their set work tasks.
This made me realise that unless we as educators are prepared to break these stylos we find ourselves teaching subject from a pure knowledge transfer approach to one that evokes dialogs and discussions, we will find ourselves responsible for raising a generation that will have majority oblivious and blissfully unaware or indifferent. And if Covid has taught us one thing, it is that we cannot afford to in our own lanes, thinking this will cross our borders.
Agree?
-
Fatema Agarkar, Founder and Chairperson , Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE)
Veteran of 3 educational start-ups , now Founder of the Agarkar Centre of Excellence, Fatema’s passion for teaching-learning and children defines the different roles she has crafted in 20 years – as an edupreneur, educator and mentor.
Fatema who is a State and University topper as part of the prestigious Mumbai based Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics, holds a degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Birmingham (UK), apart from her B.ED and ECCE degrees amassed when she decided education was her calling. Having kick-started her career in the corporate world and working with premier organizations like Commerzbank, Times of India and Egon Zehnder International, she always had an inner urge to bring about an enhancement in the sphere of education..
As an educationist and life-long learner, she has come a long way to intertwine modern methods of learning, teaching and customizing education as per the student’s intellectual requisites thus eradicating stress that stems from the education system. She has been sedulous in making comprehensive alterations in the education field in India. Being a risk-taker, Fatema has been focusing on the generation of innovative educational modules and her in-depth academic know-how, nothing but truly defines her ceaseless passion. Her name is synonymous with successful education models of the country and she is adjudged as Education World’s top 50 Educators in the year 2020. Adding more feathers to her hat, she has also been the recipient of several prestigious awards for her outstanding contribution to the field of education in the years 2013 and 2015.
Fatema has been awarded by Giants Group for her outstanding contribution to the field of education in 2012, the Young Achiever’s Award in the year 2017, Singapore based, Best of Asia’s, ‘Enterprising Educator in the year 2018 and as an entrepreneur ‘Best Edupreneur 2019 and Best Leadership’ by Progressive Academic Excellence India (Maharashtra 2019) and one of the 10th finest inspirational educators in 2019 by TKR, India . Her name is synonymous with successful education models of the country and she is adjudged as Education World’s top 50 Educators in the year 2020. Adding more feathers to her hat With close to 2 decades of experience in education, Fatema is the recipient of several honours including the Indian Achiever’s Award 2021. In July 2023, Fatema was also awarded the ‘Mumbai’s top Women Leader’ award by the CMO Asia National Awards’ (10th edition). Fatema is also a Jury Member for Cambridge School Recognition Awards 2025.
Having being associated with leading high school brands like DRS International, Hyderabad, NSS Hill Spring International, Mumbai, The Gera School, Goa, D Y Patil High School, Talegaon (Pune), SVM, Ratnagiri by the Gadre family, The Excellere World School, Gurgaon, JBCN International Schools, Mumbai, Fatema has now close to 40 pre-schools and high schools that she has set up from the grassroot level including a school for special needs’.
Fatema is on the Advisory Board of several Trusts including EduTech India, Wockhardft Foundation as well as a jury member, Education World Awards, a platform that recognizes the efforts of educators pan India. Fatema is also the Vice President for Early Childhood Association (ECA) and the Mumbai Territory Head for Association for Primary Education & Research (APER) in India. Fatema has been appointed as the global ambassador of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club. . Fatema is on the advisory board of the All-India Gaming Federation (AIGF) and currently appointed as the National Council Member for Financial Literacy & Management by WICCI. Given her access to parents and her ability to provide age appropriate strategies to enable them to make more informed choices, Fatema’s passion remains counselling in the hope that effective parenting will enable children to benefit the most.
Fatema is also the special advisor of the Child Chapter Association (CCA), a non-governmental organisation registered as a Section 8. company under the Companies Act, 2013 whose mission is to spread awareness and eliminate child abuse, including child sexual abuse. Her role as a special advisor of CCA includes providing advice and guidance for their special outreach programs for Schools and teachers that tap into the child psyche and help them raise their voice against abuse. Fatema also played an instrumental role in the development of the CCA comic books and characters for their global campaign for child abuse awareness and prevention.
Currently, Fatema is the Advisor & Mentor to Finland International School, Race Course and on course to start her own school in 2026. As a TedX speaker, and a avid blogger, Fatema is passionate about sharing her knowledge amassed and inspiring stakeholders be it teachers, parents or students.
Her vision includes set up up of Soup Kitchens, Foster Homes and a community centre for the elderly under the Agarkar Foundation in time.
View all posts
