Empowering tomorrow’s leaders: The importance of teaching entrepreneurship in schools

financialexpress.com:

By Kanak Gupta

Today, as we stand at the cusp of a transformative era, it is not merely education but the infusion of entrepreneurship that becomes the catalyst for shaping the leaders of tomorrow. India has a rich history of entrepreneurial spirit, from ancient trade routes to contemporary start-up success stories. Our historical narrative of entrepreneurial prowess and legacy underwent a significant shift during the rule of outsiders. The colonial era saw a transformation in our mindset from being entrepreneurial beings to becoming job seekers and bureaucrats. “Babus” as the parlance popularly goes, at times allegedly boxed by the boundaries of the written mandates. Unfortunately, the echoes of this shift still resonate in our education system, which has long functioned to produce paper-pushers rather than fostering entrepreneurial spirits. The very structure of our classrooms emphasises uniformity, stifling individual creativity and diverse skill sets. To rekindle the entrepreneurial flame that once defined our nation, we need nothing short of a revolutionary overhaul in our education system and policies. There is great confluence of opportunity, skills and spirit in India, and it is time to break free from the moulds of conformity, fostering an environment that not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures innovation, and the spirit of entrepreneurship among our future generations.

They say it takes three generations for societal mind-set shift; the various small businesses that create value to the good old famous Indian jugaad, is perhaps indicative of the timeline, and all part of our working as a nation. Entrepreneurship is not merely about starting businesses; it is a mind-set that instals qualities essential for