Mentoring: Exploring the Needs of a Shishya in Education Leadership

“I am stuck again.”

In our day-to-day lives, we often find ourselves uttering the words – I am stuck again, where should I go for the right advice? Despite the availability of solutions and resources, it’s often the case that these options lack the certainty of providing foolproof resolutions. This uncertainty can be particularly daunting, leading us to naturally seek out individuals who have experienced the same challenges. Someone who has been in the same shoes, for insights and guidance.

Need for Mentoring in Daily Life

For example, one is working on a presentation for an upcoming project and struggling to come up with ideas to make the pitch sound convincing. They would either reach out to their peers who are good at presentations or seniors who have experience in doing the same job. Similarly, on a Sunday afternoon, when one is trying to cook a new dish, the recipe alone might not be enough. One can encounter issues that aren't covered in the instructions, like perfecting the texture or the taste and a trusted YouTube channel with practical tips comes to the rescue. For even making the right career choice, deciding which college to attend involves more than just reviewing brochures and websites. Speaking with alumni or current students provides a realistic perspective on the college experience, helping one to make a more informed decision.

Education Leaders also Struggle with Challenges

While seeking help may come easily to some, many struggle to find the right person and place to address their questions. Our education leaders - teachers, school leaders, administrators, curriculum designers, etc., also deal with similar problems. The education system in India is a very complex and dynamic space, with new challenges and opportunities emerging every day. Each state and each district has a unique problem to solve. It ranges from low attendance to a lack of parental engagement in a child’s education and goes beyond pedagogy to teaching-learning practices. It also has to do with a conducive environment at home and school, technology integration in the curriculum as well as infrastructure to make quality education accessible to children. Some factors are affected by geography or economic conditions, while others are influenced by unavailability of resources.

Limitations

Our education leaders often find themselves stuck, not knowing how to go about addressing a challenge. Their challenges involve not only just ensuring the academic excellence of students but also adapting to evolving technology, addressing challenges in the community, and adopting new & relevant teaching methods. Amidst these, there is also a sense of limitation due to resource and policy constraints, resistance to change, and uncertainty about the most effective strategies. These factors can hinder swift action and decision-making, making it challenging to navigate and address issues effectively. Indeed, they too need a set of support structures that are conducive to their needs and aspirations. A solution [or a mentor] that they can count on for any challenge and receive the most credible advice.

This is a five-part blog series on mentoring. In the second piece, explore the transformative role of mentoring and its significance in shaping the learning journey of educational leaders.

Meet the Author

Nancy Nikita Samad

Since her childhood, Nancy has been an inquisitive person. Her inquisitiveness drove her to pursue non-traditional career paths and become the person she always envisioned. In places where she doesn't understand the language, she tries to observe the environment and understand the culture. Life stories immensely interest her. She values cultural knowledge and verbal history. Currently, she works as an Associate - Communications at ShikshaLokam under the Ecosystem Development Team. In the past, she has worked with Lal Sakhi, on running social media campaigns. While working with CORO India, her approach to analyzing situations transformed into a multidimensional lens.

Simmi Puri

Simmi is founder of an Edtech startup and has global experience in product design and innovation. At Shikshalokam, she was instrumental in developing Mentor capability, enabling its adoption in the domain of 'Beyond Education'. She was awarded SKOCH Product Award for designing solutions to foster inclusion. She forayed into social-tech to deliver scalable solutions for sustainable impact. Simmi promotes Stem for Girls and has evangelised initiatives like 'Girls Who Code' and 'Digital Equalizer'. Diverse domains and experiences excite her; she is always curious to tread new paths. She believes life is a journey curated by connecting the nodes - each node opens new possibilities.