Beyond The Bells - An Initiative by Newsepick

Beyond the Bells is an initiative by Newsepick where we bring to light conversations that inspire, initiatives that transform in the education ecosystem.

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A Message to Parents

"It usually starts small. A phone handed over to keep them busy. A tablet during dinner. “ Just for a while.” And before you realise it, that small moment opens up an entire world in their hands. That’s not necessarily wrong.It’s the reality we live in. But what often gets missed is what comes after. Children will explore. They’ll click, scroll, watch, learn… and sometimes wander into spaces they don’t fully understand. Because at the end of the day, they’re still children. That’s where parents come in. Not as strict supervisors standing over them, but as someone present.Someone who checks in. Someone who listens. The old idea of being an authoritarian parent doesn’t really work anymore. What does work is something simpler, and honestly, harder. Being a friend your child feels safe with. Talking. Sitting beside them. Understanding their world instead of just controlling it. Because when that connection is strong, monitoring doesn’t feel forced. Guidance doesn’t feel like restriction. And slowly, without even noticing, you get there. Not just a child who listens. But a child who’s happy, secure, and knows they’re not alone. Catch up the full episode here: https://youtu.be/R0lazqpwJVY"

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Engaging Adolescents the Right Way

Engaging adolescents the right way isn’t about reducing screen time… it’s about redirecting it. Some students don’t just watch videos on robotics. They build, experiment, and bring their ideas to life. As Purnima Chatterjee highlights, independent involvement isn’t always harmful. When it’s driven by real interest, it becomes meaningful. The key is simple: 👉 Nurture what they’re naturally curious about 👉 Turn individual interests into shared communities Because the right engagement doesn’t restrict adolescents… it connects and empowers them. Catch up the full episode here: https://youtu.be/R0lazqpwJVY

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Engineering or Medicine? Why Students Should Explore More Career Options?

For a long time, many students have grown up hearing the same two career options.

Engineering 👨‍🎓. Medicine 👨‍⚕️.

But what if a child’s true potential lies somewhere else?

In this conversation, Purnima Chatterjee, Principal at ( ‪@mpbfhssofficial‬ ) M. P. Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School, reminds us of something important.

There are countless careers beyond the traditional paths. And when a child discovers the direction where their natural potential lies, they don’t just succeed. They shine.

Because ultimately, the goal is not just a career. It is happiness.

The real question is how early we help children discover what truly fits them.

Catch up the full episode here: https://youtu.be/R0lazqpwJVY

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From Joint Families to Digital Parenting

Are parents and children growing distant without realizing it? Purnima ma'am shares an observation many educators quietly notice today. Some parents are unsure about their child’s class, section, or even who teaches them. It is not about blame. It is about how lives are becoming fragmented. Children have their own worlds. Parents have demanding work and social spaces. Somewhere in between, everyday connection is thinning. Earlier, parents were deeply woven into a child’s daily rhythm. Today, that closeness is changing, and the distance often goes unnoticed. Learning ecosystems work best when students, parents, and educators stay meaningfully connected. Watch the full conversation to reflect on how we can rebuild presence in a child’s learning journey. Catch up the full episode here: https://youtu.be/R0lazqpwJVY

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How Schools Are Redefining Education? The Changing Role of Schools & Teachers

The role of schools is being quietly redefined.

In a world where information is everywhere, the true value of education no longer lies in delivering content, but in creating conditions for learning. In this conversation, Purnima Chatterjee ma'am reflects on how schools are evolving into facilitation spaces and how teachers are stepping into the role of guides, mentors, and trusted adults.

This shift brings its own challenges. Reducing distance without losing respect. Staying approachable without diluting authority. Supporting children not just academically, but emotionally and socially. This is not a conversation about change for the sake of change.

It is about rethinking what meaningful education looks like in today’s realities.

A must-watch for educators, school leaders, and parents navigating the future of learning.

Catch up the full episode here: https://youtu.be/R0lazqpwJVY

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The Invisible Triangle That Shapes Every Child’s Learning

A classroom is not just a room full of desks.

It is 40 to 45 students walking in every day with 40 to 45 different homes, cultures, belief systems, and emotional worlds. What we often call a “class” is actually a deeply neurodiverse society in itself.

In this conversation, Purnima Chatterjee reminds us why the approachability of a teacher matters so much. Because learning does not happen in isolation. It happens within a triangle. The student, the teacher, and the parent.

When that triangle is strong, children feel supported both at school and at home. When it weakens, students struggle to find their place.

Every child in a classroom is quietly seeking recognition. Not just for marks or performance, but for who they are. They want to belong to a community that does not exist at home, but is created within the school.

This video explores how teachers become the connecting thread between families and classrooms, and why building trust and approachability is just as important as delivering lessons.

How can schools nurture this triangle so that every child feels seen and supported?

Catch up the full episode here: https://youtu.be/R0lazqpwJVY

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Nuclear vs Joint Family | How Home Shapes Child Behaviour in Classrooms?

In classrooms, we often see different behaviours in children.

Some come from joint families, used to sharing space and voices.

Some come from nuclear families, growing up with quieter routines. These differences don’t come from the family size alone.

They show up in how children experience connection at home. When a child feels secure, listened to, and valued, it reflects in the classroom too.

They participate better.

They adapt faster.

They feel confident to express themselves. Education does not begin at the school gate.

It begins in everyday moments at home, in the way children are seen, heard, and supported before they ever enter a classroom.

Catch up the full episode here: https://youtu.be/R0lazqpwJVY

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Will AI Replace Independent Thinking in Students? Benefits & Risks Explained by Purnima Chatterjee Everyone is talking about AI in schools. But are we asking the right questions? In this insightful discussion, Purnima Chatterjee explains how AI enables personalized learning, allowing children to master concepts at their own pace. At the same time, she raises an important concern. If students rely too heavily on AI tools, will they lose the habit of researching, thinking deeply, and staying patient? AI can be a powerful support system. But it should never replace independent thinking. Do you think AI is strengthening or weakening student learning? Catch up the full episode here: https://youtu.be/R0lazqpwJVY

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Learning in Today's Digital World - Beyond The Bells Podcast with Purnima Chatterjee

An engaging conversation on how learning is moving beyond rote memorisation to meaning, purpose, and lifelong skills, and how NEP 2020 is re

Learning in Today's Digital World | Beyond the Bells | Episode 5

Purnima Chatterjee, Principal of MP Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School, shares insights from her 30+ years in education on how classrooms are evolving under NEP 2020. The conversation explores learning beyond marks, emotional safety, digital influence, and how schools can nurture well-rounded, future-ready students.

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What is Parenting? | Beyond the Bells Podcast with Dr. Jonaki Mukherjee from Techno India Group

What does parenting truly mean today? Dr Jonaki Mukherjee joins Beyond the Bells to discuss mindful parenting, emotional growth, and raising

Mindful Parenting in the Digital Age | Beyond the Bells | Episode 4 Dr. Jonaki Mukherjee, Director of Campus Enrichment and Community Relations - School for Techno India Group shares how students, teachers, & parents co-create trust & empathy to build the School of Tomorrow, raising safe, empowered children.

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Education in Transition- Beyond the Bells Podcast with Jaidev Ghosh, Principal of South Point School

How is education evolving in today’s world? In this episode of Beyond the Bells, Jaidev Ghosh, Principal of South Point School, shares insig

Education in Transition | Beyond the Bells | Episode 3 Jaidev Ghosh, Principal of South Point High School, shares how one of Kolkata’s most iconic institutions is preparing students not just for exams, but for life. Blending tradition with innovation, he highlights empathy, mentorship, and future-ready skills. From strong alumni ties to building its own satellite, South Point shows how education can nurture confidence, community, and curiosity.

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Schools Without Borders | Beyond the Bells Podcast with Suman Sood, Director of B.D.Memorial School

Suman Sood, Director of B.D. Memorial School, talks about education that breaks barriers and builds global citizens.

Schools Without Borders | Beyond the Bells | Episode 2 Suman Sood, Director & Principal of BD Memorial Junior School, offers a visionary outlook shaped by her work in global collaborations and early childhood education. With decades of leadership, she reimagines “schools without borders,” where learning flows across classrooms, communities, and cultures. From peer teaching and parent projects to Kolkata-Sundarbans ties, she shows how education moves beyond exams to curiosity and creativity.

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Together We Learn | The New Age of Collaboration in Education | Beyond The Bells Podcast

Paromita Mam brings forward refreshing insights from her classroom experiences, stories of younger students stepping up to help their senior

The New Age of Collaboration in Education I Beyond The Bells I Episode 1 Paromita Guha, Principal Apeejay School, Part Street, Kolkata brings forward refreshing insights from her 35+ years of experiences in education. She paints a vivid picture of how collaboration is breaking down silos, encouraging innovation, and nurturing a spirit of collective learning with stories of younger students stepping up to help their seniors, of project-based teamwork sparking curiosity, and of science experiments turning into opportunities for shared discovery.

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Beyond the Bells is an initiative by Newsepick

A movement to bring forward the aspects in education beyond the curriculum that form an integral part of learning. Conversations with educat

Beyond The Bells - An Initiative by Newsepick

Beyond the Bells is an initiative by Newsepick where we bring to light conversations that inspire, initiatives that transform in the education ecosystem. From nurturing empathy to encouraging curiosity, from building digital wisdom to embracing cultural connections, numerous efforts from educators, policymakers, parents, and students shape the education ecosystem. Beyond the Bells is where we bring to light these aspects of education that often stay outside the pages of a textbook, yet are essential in shaping young minds. What you will discover here? Conversations with educators, change makers, and students who share experiences that challenge conventional thinking and inspire new approaches to learning. Stories, reflections, and deep dives into topics that enrich the mind, stir emotions, and spark action. Thought pieces, guides, and real-world examples that help parents, teachers, and communities bring holistic education into everyday practice. Our Purpose Education is more than exams and grades. It’s about giving children the skills, values, and perspectives to navigate life with confidence and compassion. https://beyondthebells.in/