Our progress as a society in the past few decades has seen a huge transformation in terms of expectations and also, aspirations, as we nurture the 21st century learner for a future that we surely know little about today. This is simply attributed to the fact that the pace of evolution in the last 50 years has been exponential and only promises to increase in tenacity as we move ahead. With these rapid changes in the teaching-learning process, and us re-thinking and re-designing processes and systems, the nature of the relationships are critical partnerships that define success.
So what are these partnerships? The mentoring between teachers and students, the bond between parents and students, and the connect between parents and teachers that completes this circle of teaching-learning. The latter – the partnership between home and school, perhaps the more crucial relationship in these evolving times.
As an educator, i will honestly admit that without understanding, faith and commitment on part of both teachers and parents, this journey for the child will become a meaningless one. Educators will forge ahead with upgraded skills and deliver on mandates set by Board expectations, while parents who have not been exposed to this form of teaching and learning will be ill-equipped to understand that knowledge alone will not be enough, it is the application of the same that will hold the child in stood stead and to achieve this, the path of teaching-learning has changed! The communication between the two therefore is important. For parents in this era of helicopter parenting, it will be critical to understand a school’s vision and what they are looking to achieve and play a supporting role.
Micro managing a child’s life will not be possible if educators and parents are to achieve the expectations of 21st century learning that speaks about creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. This means, risks will have to be taken, un conventional forms of teaching-learning adopted and a lot more freedom provided to children to learn. More than ever, teachers become facilitators, parents become supporters and children take the lead to learn and become accountable for the process.
As decision makers, educators and parents move into a supporting role and this requires a change in mindset not only for educators embracing this revolution but also parents. This relationship between home-school more than ever, will require faith and trust, an open mindedness and reflection as the reins of the process have been handed over to the one implementing it – the child!
One from the industry, I am confident that educators are excited about this change, but the real question is, are parents open to this new approach?
The ideal partnership will be one of communication in understanding the goals a school has, a constant feedback and collaborative effort in enforcing what the school is doing at home too, but not repetition. Keeping abreast of all that is happening in school, via communication that is sent out. Parents will do well if they steer away from the temptations of comparisons between children, over managing their children’s time with tuitions, etc and instead focus on the core program objectives that the school has. Attending regular teacher-parent meetings and getting clarity from the school upfront instead of a ‘whats app’ network may make this journey a more effective one in terms of partnerships.
We also need to be mindful of the challenges that may arise as we remain a people centric industry be it as teachers or parents, and the most useful way to approach this would be with a mindset that irrespective of the problem, a solution will be identified and that we must always remain patient.
Where I to put it in a nutshell, the journey ahead for our children involves team work. The Team PT (Parent-Teacher) is a force to reckon with and synergising strengths will be our greatest contribution for the teaching-learning process in the 21st century.
It is time to action it out and celebrate this collaboration.
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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.
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