Personal journey of nurturing talent

Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think, said Albert Einstein.

- BY DEBAPRIYA MUKHERJEE

For the past six years, my work with students has been devoted to introducing and strengthening critical thinking in their learning journey. I often observe that many students struggle to achieve success in life — not because they lack talent or determination, but because they are shaped by an education system that prioritizes marks over real learning, memory over creativity, and conformity over individuality.

As a result, students grow up uncertain about their passions, unprepared for real-world challenges, and lacking the confidence to explore new opportunities — creating a gap between academic performance and true success. Too often, the emphasis on rote learning and examination outcomes prevents children from exploring ideas or understanding concepts at a deeper level. During classroom interactions, it becomes evident that students rely heavily on teachers’ prompts, struggle to justify their reasoning, and hesitate to express their own thoughts. Many quietly wait for the “correct answer” rather than sharing their perspectives. When I ask, “Can you explain your reasoning behind a particular science or mathematics experiment?” several students become unsure, as the question does not come directly from the textbook.