Unlearning to learn

UNCONVENTIONAL

Intelligent, witty and now a mentor to many. An alumnus of IIT Delhi, courageous enough to quit his corporate job in just three months.

One doesnt find many people who have the guts to follow their heart and do what they want to do.

Rahul Khandelwal, founder of Unlearn Formulae did what made him happy in life and chose a path which was not easy but for him life is free and wild - like his own beard!

Rahul is on a path to the change the Indian education system by addressing the problems at the grass root levels.

He has chosen Maths and Physics as his tools to bring a change in the children and help them become better individuals, decision makers and independent learners and thinkers when they grow up.

From a small town boy who grew up in Madhya Pradesh to joining the IIT to moving into the corporate world to starting his own NGO Unlearn Formulae, Rahul’s journey has been a roller coaster ride.

“I established Unlearn Formulae in 2010. It took me two and a half years to conceptualise the whole thing. I have worked with the governments of Punjab and Himachal and have brought out books for primary students.”

Why was important to leave his lucrative job, Rahul said, “I realised that I cannot sit in front of a computer and do monotonous or repetitive work for people without knowing the bigger plan. I finally quit my job in the third month itself and joined Pratham.”

After quitting his corporate job, Rahul worked for two years with Pratham Education Foundation, an NGO before setting foot as an entrepreneur. “It is an initiative to create independent learners and thinkers.

It is about learning to write one’s own script, very early in life i.e. right in the school years.”

Terming it as a doctor-patient therapy, he adds, “I give them a test before every chapter and assess them. The test gives me a clear idea of where the student is lagging and then I teach the chapter accordingly.

I follow three levels of teaching, i.e basic understanding, part application and preparing them for competitive exams.”

“The parents are happy, students are happy. What else can I want? It is the satisfaction that I get from teaching them.

Now my students love Maths and are no longer scared of the subject. I also share a very easy rapport with them, friendly and less authoritative. I am a mentor who is there to guide them.”

Rahul’s academy is for the talented and the way of teaching is simple, uncomplicated and an adaptive model.

Dr. Sudhir Kulkarni, one of the parents who sends his child says, “The most important thing that happened to my kid is that he is no more scared Maths. I am happy with this structure of teaching.”

“It helps us think out of the box. He is better than the school teacher and the sums and problems given here are challenging,” said Rishab, a Std VII student.

Another student Anubhav says, “Friends know me as a Maths wizard. The teacher makes me sit in the back row and the students who are a bit week in Maths, sit in the front.

That makes me feel very good.”