Skills-Focused Education System for Today’s World — Opsked
Why do we need a new approach to the education system?
In today’s rapidly evolving world, it is crucial to have an education system that genuinely listens to its most important stakeholders: the students. Unfortunately, in traditional educational settings, the voices of learners are often overlooked, resulting in a significant gap between what is being taught and what is actually needed in the real world.
Students need an entity that truly listens, understands their needs, and adapts to their feedback. Opsked (Open Skills Education) aims to be that entity — an open, transparent, and responsive education system where students’ voices are not only heard but also actively shape their learning experiences.
Features
Opsked Education System Architecture
Opsked Education Framework
Modular Learning
Modules
Modular Learning in the Opsked Education System is designed to break down traditional subject-based education into more practical, project-driven modules. Each module integrates learning activities and real-world projects, ensuring that students not only gain knowledge but also apply it in meaningful ways. This approach allows for flexibility, enabling students to progress at their own pace, focus on areas of interest, and build a more comprehensive understanding of skills that are directly applicable to the industry.
Each class (class 1 to class 12) is structured to include four modules spread throughout the year. Each module focuses on both theoretical learning and practical application through activities and projects, allowing students to deepen their understanding and build essential skills progressively.
This modular structure not only provides a clear roadmap for students but also allows for regular assessment and reflection on their progress. By the end of the year, students will have completed multiple projects that demonstrate their competencies, preparing them for real-world challenges and opportunities.
ECAs and PDPs
Alongside these core modules, students engage in extracurricular activities and passion-driven pursuits that complement their academic journey. These activities are designed to foster creativity, teamwork, and personal growth, providing students with opportunities to explore their interests and passion beyond the classroom and develop essential life skills.
ECAs: Extracurricular Activities are typically provided by the school, offering a structured way to explore various interests and develop new skills alongside peers.
Examples: Entrepreneurship Club, Environmental Club, Coding Club, Cooking Club, Community Service, Math Club, Art Club, Sports and Physical Fitness, Language Club, etc.
PDPs: Passion-Driven Pursuits are often self-initiated and pursued outside the framework of the school’s standard offerings, allowing for deeper exploration of personal interests and passion.
Examples: Personal Blog Writing, Cooking and Recipe Development, Filmmaking Project, Woodworking Project, Mobile App Creation, Volunteering, etc.
Opsked — Open Skills Education is not just another educational framework; it’s a movement towards a future where education is defined by YOU.
Note: Opsked is currently in the research phase and is seeking support from the Govt. of India for structured implementation. You can contribute your ideas here.
Research Done Before Building this Education Framework
Sentiment Analysis of YouTube Video Comments on the Indian Education System
I conducted a sentiment analysis of the comments on the YouTube video — “The Dark Reality of Indian Education System” by the Tharun Speaks channel, which uncovered valuable opinions from the audience.
The results revealed a significant prevalence of negative sentiments, particularly concerning academic pressure and its impact on mental health. Many commenters expressed their frustrations about an exam-focused culture that seems to overshadow holistic development and well-being.
This analysis serves as a hypothesis testing for the Opsked — Open Skills Education framework (opsked.com), which aims to address these pressing concerns by prioritizing skills over rote learning.
Project Workflow
Sentiment Distribution
Pain Points
Insights and Recommendations
- Mental health crises fueled by academic pressure.
- An exam-focused, competitive culture that neglects holistic development.
- A commercialized education system where coaching plays a central role.
- A call for systemic change to reduce pressure and focus on skills and life preparation.
The word cloud portrays the highly pressurized, exam-focused nature of the Indian education system, where parental pressure, mental health struggles, and high-stakes competitive exams dominate conversations.
These insights show a collective dissatisfaction with the rigid structure of the Indian education system and a growing desire for a more balanced, student-friendly approach.
Explore the full project on GitHub: https://github.com/vikramsalunkhe256/youtube-comments-sentiment-analysis?tab=readme-ov-file
Problems/Gaps in Current Education System & Key Insights
Student Suicides in India — Stats
One student took their own life every 42 minutes in 2020, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). In the same year, 11,396 suicides of students below the age of 18 were reported across all of India.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/india-exam-pressure-fuels-spike-in-student-suicides/a-66938137
Over 35,000 students committed suicide in the country between 2019 and 2021: MoS Social Justice. According to the data, the number of student suicides increased from 10,335 in 2019 to 12,526 in 2020 and 13,089 in 2021.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report said that 864 people below 18 years died by suicide in 2021 due to ‘failure in examinations’, which is 1% of the total suicides in the country.
To prevent student suicides, Rajasthan police formed a special team of 11 officers to establish a student unit headed by Chandrasil Thakur, a senior police officer. Everyday, they receive at least 10 calls from distressed students with mental health issues.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/india-exam-pressure-fuels-spike-in-student-suicides/a-66938137
Curated Views from Thought Leaders
Vidhi Jain critiques the Indian education system, sharing her journey of rejecting traditional schooling in favor of experiential learning and creativity through unschooling.
Key Insights:
The pressure of traditional schooling can lead to anxiety and stress in children, hindering their overall development. This highlights the need for a more supportive educational environment.
Learning through real-life experiences and interactions fosters genuine creativity in children.
Workshops revealed that unschooled children displayed more creativity than their schooled peers.
She sees similar issues in education systems worldwide, branding them as “factory schools”.
Advocating for a learning approach that extends beyond formal schooling, focusing on personal growth.
Focus on passion and skills rather than degrees.
Need for reform in global education systems to prioritize creativity and individual growth over standardized testing.
Bryan Shaw shares his journey from a troubled student to a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the need for an education system that fosters creativity and passion.
Key Insights:
Focus on real-world skills.
Adding creativity to learning.
Without heavy reliance on exams, reducing stress and focusing on student interests can lead to high academic performance.
Traditional education often fails to engage students’ interests.
Passion fuels engagement in learning.
Pragnya Suma advocates for a transformative change in education, emphasizing the need for practical application of knowledge and personalized learning.
Key Insights:
Education should focus on practical application, not just theoretical knowledge.
Current education systems unfairly assess diverse talents with standardized tests.
Real-life experiences are crucial for understanding concepts, like where food comes from.
Passion-driven learning fosters creativity and personal growth in students.
Soft skills and life skills are essential for navigating the real world successfully.
The Indian ed-tech industry has evolved rapidly post-COVID, presenting new opportunities for innovation.
Key Insights:
User behavior changed, with many educators becoming tech-savvy, ensuring a permanent shift to digital learning.
Hybrid models are emerging as sustainable strategies, blending offline education with online tools.
Customer acquisition costs soared during the race for market share, highlighting the need for sustainable growth strategies.
Focus on user motivations and needs is essential for product-market fit and long-term success in the ed-tech space.
Significant opportunities exist in upskilling and supplemental learning.
Why I Chose This Project
The idea for Opsked — an open skills education platform — came from research and my belief that education should be more than just theoretical learning. It should empower individuals with the practical skills and real-world experiences they need to thrive in their careers and lives. Traditional education often fails to bridge the gap between knowledge and application.
To explore more about this proposed framework, visit the website: opsked.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn
My website: vikramsalunkhe.com
