Busting the myths of traditional schooling
Mrs Meera Gaitonde (Parent):
Dr Malpani, I’m worried. I’ve done everything society tells me is right. I’ve sent my child to the “best” expensive school. We pay a fortune in school fees and private tuitions. Yet, I don’t see my child enjoying learning. He’s stressed, anxious, and bored. Am I missing something?
Dr Malpani:
Meera, you’re asking the right questions! Let’s start by challenging some very old assumptions about education.
Myth 1: Students need to go to school to learn
Meera:
Isn’t school necessary? How else will children learn?
Dr Malpani:
Students need learning, not school. Learning happens when children are curious and engaged. Schools were designed for the industrial age to mass-produce obedient workers. But the internet has changed everything. Knowledge is now freely available. Community microschools and learning pods can nurture creativity, autonomy, and real-world skills far better than traditional classrooms.
Myth 2: Expensive schools are better
Meera:
Surely expensive schools offer better education?
Dr Malpani:
Not necessarily. Often, high fees go toward infrastructure, branding, and marketing—not better teaching. True education depends on the learner, not the label of the school. A child surrounded by supportive mentors, access to learning tools, and freedom to explore will outperform children stuck in rigid, expensive systems.
Myth 3: Students need teachers to be taught
Meera:
Don’t children need teachers to teach them?
Dr Malpani:
Teachers should be facilitators, not dictators of knowledge. The best teachers ignite curiosity, not just deliver content. In self-directed environments like our learning pods, children collaborate, explore, and learn from each other. They become active participants, not passive recipients.
Myth 4: Exams are a great way of testing how much students have learnt
Meera:
But what about exams? Don’t they tell us how much children know?
Dr Malpani:
Exams mostly test memory and rote learning. They rarely assess understanding, creativity, or problem-solving skills. Worse, they create anxiety and a fear of failure. In a microschool, continuous observation, project work, and peer feedback provide a much richer and accurate assessment of true learning.
Myth 5: Tuitions help students learn better
Meera:
I spend so much on tuitions. It feels like a necessary evil.
Dr Malpani:
That’s because schools fail to meet children’s individual needs. Tuitions are just an expensive band-aid. In self-directed environments, children learn at their own pace. They explore resources online, seek help from peers, and develop real mastery instead of chasing marks. Tuitions breed dependency; microschools nurture independence.
Myth 6: Our education system prepares students for the future
Meera:
Aren’t schools equipping kids for tomorrow’s world?
Dr Malpani:
Sadly, no. Schools are still preparing students for an exam-driven, factory-style world that no longer exists. The future demands adaptability, creativity, emotional intelligence, and lifelong learning skills. Microschools are designed for exactly this, allowing students to learn how to learn.
Myth 7: Students will just waste time playing games if left to their own devices
Meera:
I’m scared my child will just waste time on gadgets if I give him freedom.
Dr Malpani:
It’s a valid concern, but trust and guidance go a long way. When children are given meaningful challenges and responsibilities, they rise to the occasion. Our pods provide a balanced structure. Children use technology as a tool for exploration and creation, not mindless consumption.
Myth 8: Classroom lectures are the best way to teach students
Meera:
So lectures are outdated?
Dr Malpani:
Exactly. One-size-fits-all lectures are inefficient. They cater to the average student and leave behind both the fast and slow learners. Learning pods encourage peer-to-peer learning, hands-on projects, discussions, and use of multimedia resources—all of which are far more engaging and effective.
Meera (smiling, visibly relieved):
This makes so much sense, Dr Malpani. I can already see how my child will thrive in such an environment.
Dr Malpani:
I’m glad, Meera. The good news is you don’t have to wait for schools or governments to change. Take matters in your own hands by starting your own digital learning pod – your children will not get a second chance! Learn how here.