As a teacher committed to sparking curiosity and nurturing potential, I believe Karnataka stands at the threshold of a transformative leap in education. If our government school students are to compete with their peers on global platforms like the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), we must shift from teaching for exams to teaching for understanding.Our classrooms must become ecosystems of deep learning—where foundational literacy and numeracy are built from the early years using multilingual resources, interactive pedagogy, and visual aids. We must prioritise concept clarity over content coverage, encouraging inquiry, analysis, and real-world application in subjects like math, science, and language.Empowering teachers is key. They must be viewed not merely as implementers, but as innovators—equipped with 21st-century pedagogies, formative assessment strategies, and the confidence to make learning relevant and joyful. A supported, trusted teacher can turn any classroom into a centre of excellence.Reading culture, problem-solving, and life skills must be seamlessly integrated. Let Karnataka’s cultural and linguistic richness reflect in its curriculum through local crafts, environmental awareness, and collaborative projects.Above all, we must ensure that rural and government school students have equitable access to digital tools, libraries, exposure, and encouragement—because quality education should not depend on one’s pin code.Let us create classrooms where children learn not just to score, but to solve; not just to remember, but to reflect.Karnataka’s PISA journey begins by believing in the brilliance of every child—and by placing trust back in its teachers..The author is the Educator/Facilitator at The Green School Bangalore (TGSB)
