Beyond Marks: Nurturing Skills for Future Generation
Biswajit Jha, director of the school shares how Epic Public School, challenges the traditional system by fostering creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning, and prepares students beyond marks for the challenges of tomorrow.
Picture this: You’re about to hire a driver. He’s arrived for an interview. Now, would you bother asking for his driving school grades? Unlikely. The one thing you’d want to assess is his driving ability. You’d hand him the keys, watch him take the wheel, and observe how well he maneuvers the car. Does he follow the rules? Drive safely? Only after being satisfied with his performance would you check his license. That would be enough, wouldn’t it? His grades from driving school wouldn’t matter one jot.
Yet, when it comes to education, our system seems to care more about marks than actual skill. Don’t get me wrong—good grades have their value. They reflect diligence, focus, and a level of seriousness. High marks might get you into a prestigious institution, but do they guarantee success in the real world?
The truth is, academic scores often fail to measure the most important qualities: practical knowledge and the ability to apply it. Marks don’t always equate to competence, and they certainly don’t guarantee employability. It’s the skills that matter, and sadly, our current education system doesn’t prioritise them.
The problem lies in how we prepare our students. Our education system rarely gives them a chance to be ‘skilful drivers,’ so to speak. Theory-heavy curriculums and rote learning leave little room for practical application. Students cram for exams, memorising facts that fade within months. In today’s world, where information is just a Google search away, why base everything on memory alone?
The result? A growing number of educated yet unemployable young people. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), unemployment among graduates and postgraduates in India is nearly 30%—nine times higher than for those without formal education. This paradox highlights a glaring issue: we focus too much on theory and too little on practical, real-world skills.
Yes, theory and marks have their place, but they’re not enough. Real learning—the kind that sticks for life—comes from doing. It’s hands-on experience that fosters critical thinking and creativity. This is especially vital as we transition to an era where machines will handle most routine tasks. The question we must ask is: how will our students adapt?
This pressing concern inspired me to establish Epic Public School. From day one, we’ve worked to challenge the status quo in education. At Epic, we introduced the ‘Epic Approach,’ featuring our Innovation Lab and Creativity Hub. Here, students are encouraged to think outside the box and develop real-world solutions.
We focus on nurturing a ‘maker’s mindset’—teaching students to be creators, innovators, and problem-solvers. Life rarely presents standardised questions, so we equip our students to handle uncertainty and face criticism or rejection with resilience.
At Epic, our high school students learn essential life skills alongside traditional subjects. From entrepreneurship, farming, and financial literacy to public speaking, creative writing, and basic home repairs, they’re developing independence and adaptability.
Our goal isn’t just to help students achieve good marks or secure admission to top universities. It’s to create individuals who can care for themselves, contribute to society, and tackle tomorrow’s challenges with confidence and creativity.
I’m confident that within the next decade, the students of Epic Public School will stand out—not just for their academic achievements but for their ability to think critically, act independently, and innovate in ways that truly make a difference.
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