Air pollution in Delhi NCR is a serious problem we absolutely cannot ignore anymore. It is now in the top five killers of population according to the 2014 WHO (World Health Organization) study. It has a direct impact on the rising incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurological disease, cognitive development of children, etc., and is the number one cause of increasing respiratory diseases (e.g. asthma, amongst others). It will severely impact the health, well-being, and longevity of your child. Eighty percent of children’s overall development takes place before their 5th birthday so any exposure at this young vulnerable age has long-lasting consequences. I congratulate Vega Schools on their initiative to bring in fresh, pure air thereby reducing indoor CO2 levels. There is clearly a link between reduced CO2 levels and increased attention and retention levels. The green building concept is the way forward.

‘I really like the initiative Vega has started of connecting to and listening to each and every child’s voice whether it is about their connection with their learning leaders, school being fun, learning, making friends, or the food. Many times we, mistakenly, assume a lot of things about our children. We think we know what is better for them and what they think which deprives them of their sense of personal agency.

When we ask them simple questions, listen to them, take their feedback, then we are in a much stronger position to learn and improve ourselves. When children feel heard they take a higher level of ownership of their own learning and growth. I also love the simplicity of this survey (the Vega Happiness Index) and the way it visually helps us get a feel of how children feel just at a glance. Lastly, going through the survey, it also made me realize – what a great job you are doing at Vega Schools in Gurgaon. Children’s vote matters and they are saying something very clearly – We love coming to school, connecting to our learning leaders, learning and making friends! Wow! Glad to be part of this amazing Vega phenomenon.’

Soft skills are the most critical skills we look for in our leaders. Schools need to think this through and redefine the way they assess and develop these skills. I compliment Vega Schools for their innovative immersive learning approach.

Real learning happens in a real context. Problem-based learning is the only method to make learning real and engaging and develop deep understanding and skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving which are absolutely essential to success in the workplace as well as dealing with all kinds of existential, social, or political issues. I am greatly impressed with the motivation and vision of the Vega Schools in Gurgaon Leadership team and congratulate them on launching their first school to address the needs of the 21st-century learners.

‘The school education system needs urgent reform. Instead of imparting theoretical learning, schools (like Vega is doing) need to make learning come alive via real-world projects and questions. This will help children discover their passions and imbibe real-world skills.’