It has long been recognized by our teachers, educationists and intellectuals that our children need to be more creative, and creativity is one tool that real education should impart to the children. However, when you look at modern day curriculums and the way teaching is imparted in real-life, almost everyone would agree that much remains to be done. Although the National Education Policy of 2020 talks about and lays emphasis on creativity, teachers in the real world hardly relate to it and probably it remains as a buzzword with little connection to on-the-ground learning.
So, let's first talk about the WHY. Why do you think we need creativity?
To discuss this, I would first ask you to dwell on the question of WHAT is creativity. Because once your mind is open to that, the answer reveals itself. Creativity is obviously a meta-tool, a way of doing things. And because it's an abstract thing, it's hard to pin down in exact words. You may say, it's pretty simple, the dictionary defines it as the following:
The ability to create or develop original work, theories, techniques, or thoughts.
But what is original? Is it just something that does not exist before? Then that would be an invention. But creativity encompasses more, it's not just creating new things, but also new thoughts and ways of thinking. In fact, most often, it implies the latter.
Now can you tell me how can a child's mind think of something original, when throughout their school life, the focus is on feeding them information, information that already exists. Hardly ever do we talk of new ways of thinking. That is how, when we grow up as adults, we are cocooned in our set ways of thinking, and never even think that the existing problem can be solved in yet unforeseen ways.
Creativity is all about blasting open your mind to ALL the possibilities. Once you have this mindset, not only can you be a better thinker, you will also become a better communicator (because you will be let loose of your biases and think wholesomely about what the other person is trying to convey). Creativity will bring you in the present moment and make you feel more alive. Creativity will connect you to all types of cultures. Creativity will make you realize that learning is a wholesome process, to be experienced from different angles. Creativity keeps the mind curious and stimulated, and takes out the boredom from life.
Why wouldn't you introduce creativity in our education system? Without a creative thinking mindset, education is not REAL education.
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