Create or Follow!

       I always wondered how to be creative? Is it just applying the knowledge to solve something, called creative? Is it the insights that gets generated in your mind called so? Or is it the wisdom to put things in place called creative? 

     As a kid we are so curious, imaginative, fear-less, experimental. Does these fall into being creative? Yes, in many ways.  Why do we lose these traits as we grow up? Is it our education that is making us follow instead of staying open minded? Absolutely true. 

      The new system of education, with NEP 2020, wanted to bridge the gap between education and practical world. It only succeed in making the system same as what internationally developed countries are trying to achieve. Incremental changes basically. Where is the disruption?  NEP 2020 looks good on paper. As usual in India, there is no dearth of policy changes on paper. Really issue is in the implementation.

     Are we just trying to match up to what the developed world has already created? Or do we want to rely on our own creative geniuses to achieve more than what developed world has put in place? Just following what other countries do, is so convergent thinking. If you want the real change, forming committees, updating the policies will not help. Create a futuristic vision, probably 30 years ahead and put in place the system to achieve it, might help. Though the results will be delayed, we will be on track to succeed, for sure.

   Kids today are being taught to follow rather than to be creative. I am sure if we are following the same path, they end up becoming politicians who follow the policies which the other countries make. When are we going to create a new path? Is divergent thinking the answer to our problems? 

    As a teacher, how can I make the divergent thinking a norm in the class? Isn't it a disruptive change? Are you ready for this change?