EDGE – The Changing Face of Education

Ramesh and Suresh sit on a park bench, watching their kids chase a football while sipping their evening tea. 

RAMESH: You know, Suresh, we are living in such amazing times! Our kids don’t need to carry those heavy school bags like we did. Everything is digital now—books, classes, tests! The entire world’s knowledge is at their fingertips. I sometimes wish I were born in this era.

SURESH: Ah yes, the era where kids know more about Minecraft than mathematics and can swipe a screen before they can write their own name. Truly revolutionary!

RAMESH: Oh, come on! Look at the accessibility—education is no longer limited to textbooks. They can learn coding, astronomy, even entrepreneurship at an early age. My son is taking a Python course at eight! By the time he’s ten, he’ll probably be developing AI models!

SURESH: And by the time he’s fifteen, he’ll have twenty certificates and still struggle to write a basic algorithm without Googling. These online courses are great, but most kids are just collecting certificates like Pokémon cards without real learning.

RAMESH: But don’t you think self-paced learning is the future? No more rigid classrooms. Kids can explore their interests freely. If they like music, they can learn from the best musicians online. If they want to be astronauts, NASA has virtual courses! Imagine the possibilities!

SURESH: Oh, I am imagining. I am imagining a world where every child is an “aspiring entrepreneur” who’s done five leadership courses but can’t tie their own shoelaces. Let’s not forget, education isn’t just about learning skills—it’s about discipline, structure, and human interaction. You think AI tutors can teach that?

RAMESH: But schools are already integrating tech. Hybrid models are the way forward! Kids don’t have to be physically present all the time. They can learn from home, avoid unnecessary travel, and focus on real learning.

SURESH: Oh yes, real learning. Where they mute their online classes, switch tabs to YouTube, and complete assignments using ChatGPT. And let's not forget how “hybrid learning” has made us parents the unofficial teachers. Who’s doing all the actual work? Us! My son’s school sent me a 200-page PDF to teach him algebra. Who’s the student here, him or me?

RAMESH: But look at how skill-based education is changing the job market. Degrees are not as important anymore; companies look for practical knowledge!

SURESH: Yes, and yet, when our kids go for an interview, HR still asks, “Beta, which college?” Because while companies say they want skills, they still judge based on degrees. And let’s be honest, the internet is filled with ten different crash courses on the same topic, and yet fresh graduates still struggle to get a job. If everything is so skill-based, why is unemployment rising?

RAMESH: You’re being too negative! Even the government is making education more flexible through different policies. There’s so much emphasis on multidisciplinary learning!

SURESH: Aah, the government! They come up with great policies, and the schools come up with great fees. Have you seen the cost of school uniforms these days? It’s like they are stitching them with gold thread. And don’t get me started on the “mandatory annual function fees” or “school picnic charges.” What are they feeding the kids on these picnics? Gold Pizzas?

RAMESH: Well, schools do have expenses. They need to maintain quality, hire good teachers, provide better facilities.

SURESH: Right. Because nothing says “quality education” like a Rs. 3,000 yoga mat that my child must buy from the school store, even though we have five at home.  Where’s all this “better facility” when classrooms still have broken fans and leaky roofs?

RAMESH: But look at EdTech! It’s solving a lot of these problems. No need to depend entirely on schools when kids can learn online from the best educators worldwide!

SURESH: Yes, and in the process, we’ve created a monster. These EdTech companies are more aggressive than insurance salesmen. They’ll convince a five-year-old that he needs IIT-JEE coaching. You miss a free webinar, and suddenly you get ten calls saying, “Sir, your child’s future is at stake!” If I had a rupee for every time an EdTech salesman told me my child was falling behind, I could afford that overpriced school uniform.

RAMESH: Okay, okay, but you can’t deny that technology is making education more accessible, especially in remote areas. Digital classrooms are bringing knowledge to villages!

SURESH: Sure, in theory. In reality, half of these villages don’t have stable internet, and many kids don’t even have a smartphone. And even when they do, parents end up using the phone for WhatsApp forwards more than kids use it for learning. Digital education is great, but it’s not reaching everyone the way it should.

RAMESH: Hmm… I see your point. But still, aren’t you excited that our kids have so many opportunities that we never had?

SURESH: Excited? I’m terrified. They have so many choices, they don’t know what to choose. One day they want to be a data scientist, the next day a content creator, and by Friday, they’re planning to become a stand-up comedian. Back in our day, we had three career options: Doctor, Engineer, or Failure. Life was simple!

RAMESH: Well, at least they are exploring! We should be happy that they don’t have to force themselves into careers they don’t love.

SURESH: I’ll be happy when my child’s “career exploration” phase doesn’t end with me paying for another online course that he forgets about in a week.

RAMESH: You’ll see, Suresh. Our kids are growing up in an era of boundless possibilities. One day, they’ll surprise us with what they achieve.

SURESH: I just hope they achieve it before I go bankrupt funding their possibilities.

Their kids return from the game, exhausted and happy. The two fathers smile, sip their tea, and for now, put the debate on hold.