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Unlocking Our Potential: A Deep Dive into the Four Pillars of Education
- 2025-08-21
- SCMHRD
On 12th August 2025, we had a fantastic and eye-opening session with Dr. Gargee Mitra, who guided us through the core ideas of the UNESCO report on education for the twenty-first century. She began with a light ice-breaker before introducing us to the four pillars of education as defined by Jacques Delors.
Learning to Be: The Journey Within
Dr. Mitra started by explaining "Learning to Be," a pillar that's all about personal development. It's about finding our hidden talents and using them to become more autonomous and responsible individuals. She stressed that education should focus on developing all aspects of a person-our mind, body, and spirit- including our reasoning, memory, physical abilities, and communication skills.
Learning to Live Together: The Power of Ubuntu
Connecting personal growth to social harmony, Dr. Mitra introduced the powerful African philosophy of "Ubuntu," which means "humanity to others." Quoting Archbishop Desmond Tutu, she shared the profound idea, "I am what I am because of who we all are." This concept is the foundation of "Learning to Live Together," which helps us overcome prejudices and biases based on race, gender, class, or religion. It highlights our interconnectedness and the importance of empathy and mutual respect.
Skills for the Future Workplace
Dr. Mitra then shared insights from the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025. She highlighted that top skills needed for the future workplace include analytical thinking, resilience, creative thinking, and empathy. She also noted that a whopping 83% of employers prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), showing its growing importance in the professional world.
She also cleared up some common myths about what makes a person employable. Contrary to popular belief, soft skills like communication and critical thinking are often more important for long-term success than just technical skills. She also explained that formal training is only a small part of how we learn, noting that we learn 70% on the job, 20% through social learning, and only 10% in formal sessions.
Connecting Global Concepts to India's NEP 2020
Finally, Dr. Mitra brought all these global ideas back to our local context. She explained how Delors' pillars are integrated into India's NEP 2020. For example, "Learning to Do" is seen in the vocational training introduced from Grade 6. "Learning to Be" and "Learning to Live Together" are also integrated through a new focus on socio-emotional learning, ethics, and creating truly inclusive classrooms.
The session was an insightful reminder that education is not just about gaining knowledge but also about developing as a whole person, building strong communities, and preparing for a dynamic future.
Photos:
Unlocking Our Potential: A Deep Dive into the Four Pillars of Education
- 2025-08-21
- SCMHRD
On 12th August 2025, we had a fantastic and eye-opening session with Dr. Gargee Mitra, who guided us through the core ideas of the UNESCO report on education for the twenty-first century. She began with a light ice-breaker before introducing us to the four pillars of education as defined by Jacques Delors.
Learning to Be: The Journey Within
Dr. Mitra started by explaining "Learning to Be," a pillar that's all about personal development. It's about finding our hidden talents and using them to become more autonomous and responsible individuals. She stressed that education should focus on developing all aspects of a person-our mind, body, and spirit- including our reasoning, memory, physical abilities, and communication skills.
Learning to Live Together: The Power of Ubuntu
Connecting personal growth to social harmony, Dr. Mitra introduced the powerful African philosophy of "Ubuntu," which means "humanity to others." Quoting Archbishop Desmond Tutu, she shared the profound idea, "I am what I am because of who we all are." This concept is the foundation of "Learning to Live Together," which helps us overcome prejudices and biases based on race, gender, class, or religion. It highlights our interconnectedness and the importance of empathy and mutual respect.
Skills for the Future Workplace
Dr. Mitra then shared insights from the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025. She highlighted that top skills needed for the future workplace include analytical thinking, resilience, creative thinking, and empathy. She also noted that a whopping 83% of employers prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), showing its growing importance in the professional world.
She also cleared up some common myths about what makes a person employable. Contrary to popular belief, soft skills like communication and critical thinking are often more important for long-term success than just technical skills. She also explained that formal training is only a small part of how we learn, noting that we learn 70% on the job, 20% through social learning, and only 10% in formal sessions.
Connecting Global Concepts to India's NEP 2020
Finally, Dr. Mitra brought all these global ideas back to our local context. She explained how Delors' pillars are integrated into India's NEP 2020. For example, "Learning to Do" is seen in the vocational training introduced from Grade 6. "Learning to Be" and "Learning to Live Together" are also integrated through a new focus on socio-emotional learning, ethics, and creating truly inclusive classrooms.
The session was an insightful reminder that education is not just about gaining knowledge but also about developing as a whole person, building strong communities, and preparing for a dynamic future.
Photos:
