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RISE OF INDIA'S EDTECH SECTOR

All over the world, the education sector has been greatly impacted by the Covid pandemic.The Pandemic has acted as a catalyst for digitisation of education . There is an old African saying,"When the beat of the old drumbeat changes,the dance steps must adapt".We are not only seeing new dance steps,we are seeing Teachers,students ,parents and everyone associated with it embrace the changes and adapt. "Online Learning "seems to be the only possible solution to make education accessible to students across the country,where video lessons,proctored exams and MOOCs exist cheek by jowl. The pandemic has done more good than harm to the Indian Edtech space,which has been fueled by the National Education Policy.

Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) says that with about 9.5 million users, India is the second largest market for e-learning after US. Experts believe that Edtech startups have a crucial role to play in the B2B education space by revolutionising and contributing to massification of education. The need of the hour is for educational institutions to work in close synergy with think-tanks nationally and internationally to better their infrastructure and services so that they can offer blended learning to students.

Online Platforms like BYJU's, Unacademy, UpGrade, Vedantu, Square Panda and many more have witnessed exponential growth in 2020. Vedantu, through its live and interactive online classes has taken a chunk of the private tutoring system,while platforms like UpGrade are offering industry relevant curriculum, bridging the gap between industry requirements and working professionals. Then there are platforms like Illumnus ,which are device agnostic and chat-based,that simplify learning and integrate the best of online learning and classroom education. Square Panda,on the other hand offers neuro-science based curriculum and AI based technology to teach children.

Therefore,a paradigm shift needs to be made in the education field ,which is clearly the future of education. 

THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP

Mentors are none other than Gurus' who help their disciples attain salvation or in this case realise their dreams & objectives.They believe in your ideas and provide you invaluable inputs to reach your goals.Even the most successful entrepreneurs are of the opinion that it is critical to have a good mentor who handholds and encourages you. The most crucial role that a mentor plays is to reassure when you are struggling with decision-making. It has been observed by SBA(US Small Business Administration),that 70% of the mentored businesses survive longer than five years. Even the world's greatest entrepreneurs like Ratan Tata, Nandan Nilekani and Mark Zuckerberg, to name a few needed mentoring to guide them and provide them with an unbiased opinion.

A good mentor is someone who watches over you and helps you in seeing the larger picture. Having gone through a similar cycle,these mentors through their experiences help you in acquiring the necessary skills and provide you with strategies to get better business outcomes. They are like the Sachin Tendulkars' and Ravi Shastris' who teach you the nitty-gritties  and coach you on all facets of the game.

However,it is equally important to choose a right mentor,who is in complete sync with your ideas and can invest sufficient time and energy towards your initiative.The success of mentorship depends upon the relationship the mentor and mentee build.The Mentee should also have patience and faith to be guided by the mentor.

Right mentoring can act as a catalyst and can accelerate the learning curve of an entrepreneur and help him navigate the initial few years which are very tough.

 

TIPS TO COPE UP WITH STRESS & ANXIETY IN VUCA TIMES

One of the major casualties of the pandemic have been children ,who have seen constant disruptions in their studies and exams causing stress and other mental health issues like anxiety and depression.This has been aggravated by the absence of outdoor activities and online interaction with friends and teachers .This tumultous year has given rise to Volatility, Uncertainity, Complexity and Ambiguity( VUCA) in all facets of life, specially in the life of students and children. It is very necessary that parents,counsellors and friends recognise the early signs of mental health issues and provide timely emotional and psychological help before they snowball.

Signs of Depression In Children

  1. Irritability
  2. Crankiness
  3. Significant changes in their functioning such as losing interest in toys,games, stop responding to things such as jokes or withdrawing from activities of interest.
  4. Tire easily or loss of energy.
  5. Start complaining about physical symptoms such as stomach aches,headaches.
  6. Loss of appetite,sleep disturbances that persist.

 Tips to keep you and your mental health resilient and intact-

  • Spend time with your family and friends-Talk to them, specially the children.Play their favourite games, watch shows together, crack jokes,and laugh with them. Indulge in activities like painting, cooking or baking with them.The idea is not to let them feel isolated.Reassure them that you are with them and it is a temporary phase and it shall also pass .
  • Encourage children to exercise. Exercise not only helps to keep you fit,it also releases endorphins-the feel good hormones.Breathing exercises,yoga and meditation help to combat stress and anxiety.
  • Find something positive in everything you do.This will help you in developing a positive outlook.Maintain a journal -writing helps to relieve stress.
  • Seek help from professionals.Don't let the stigma around it deter you.There are government designated distress helplines like Nayi Disha which provide professional support to students undergoing mental health issues due disruptions in studies due to Covid 19 outbreak.
  • Have well-balanced nutritious meals. These help in boosting production of dopamine and serotonin which regulate your mood, sleep, appetite and is associated with pleasurable sensations.
  • Listen to Music or play an instrument.It helps to uplift your mood.
  • Excessive screen time has been found to have adverse effects on children and young adults.Though with everything being online it is difficult ,however try to limit the screen time of children.Create phone-free spaces and time in home,when devices are not used. 
  • Follow a regular sleep routine of minimum 6-8 hours as it regulates mood, helps to better cope up with stress.Sleep deprivation also leads to depression and Binge-eating.
  • Stop procrastinating. Practice mindfulness and learn time management. Learn to prioritise your work and allocate realistic time for completion.Multi-tasking can sometimes lead to anxiety and stress.