This advice from the head of ISRO could change the way students learn forever. A strong message from IISro chief V Narayanan to students was to break free from a book-only approach.
He told them it was important for them to grow in all areas, like their minds, hearts, and friendships. He liked how Tamil Nadu worked to prepare kids for the future and make them well-rounded.
He told teachers and experts at the Anna Centenary Library that being smart in school isn’t enough anymore because the world needs people with flexibility, values and a wide range of skills.
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Learning values are the same as grade points.
He stressed that doing well in school and having strong values go hand in hand. The book isn’t important by itself. What matters is overall personality development, the head of IISc was quoted by the news agency PTI as saying.
Along with math, science, and getting good grades, Narayanan stressed the importance of respect, patience and building character. Narayanan talked about his own time as a student at a government school and stressed that how someone learns and grows is more important than the school they go to.
He told the kids that they shouldn’t just think about becoming doctors or engineers, because a mature country needs people with skills in the arts, sports, sciences, and many new areas.
FUTURE-READY LESSON PLANS, AI, AND DATA SCIENCE WILL BE ADDED
Narayanan suggested adding topics that focus on the future, like AI and Data Science, along with proper training for teachers, to make sure that the new curriculum will help students for ten years.
The former head of the space agency said that universities should work together with businesses and other universities more. He also said that the next stage of university growth should focus on high-impact research, innovation hubs, and foreign relationships that improve both the universities’ image and their usefulness to society. “We should really work on problems in the real world that need the attention of academics.” This also isn’t there,” he said.
Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, the minister of school education, talked about how young people are becoming more and more addicted to technology and announced plans to raise understanding about too much computer time.
As Tamil Nadu moves forward with modern, value-based curriculum changes, the focus is moving from just teaching classes to making sure that students are well-rounded and ready to thrive in a world that is changing quickly.
Employers want thinkers, not just straight A’s
When ISRO chief V Narayanan tells kids they can’t be “mere bookworms,” he’s not talking about some vague philosophical idea. He is saying the same thing that companies around the world are already yelling from their hiring screens. According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025, critical thinking is the most sought-after skill by employers. In fact, seven out of ten employers say it’s necessary for hiring and moving up in a job. Next come perseverance, flexibility, agility, leadership, and social impact. These are all skills that don’t come from memorizing facts, but from the value-based education that Narayanan wants to bring back to India: self-control, teamwork, respect, and the ability to learn and forget without falling apart.
At the end, Somanath told universities that they should improve their study culture and create strong centers of success in areas like Indian knowledge systems, leadership, government, and public policy. “A future-ready education empowers students not only to excel in careers but also contribute meaningfully to the creation of this nation,” said he.
