Academic learning alone cannot mould a complete human being, and education must now pivot toward building innovators, problem-solvers and critical thinkers, asserted M.R. Prasanna Kumar, Additional State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha, on Thursday.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship training workshop at Siddhartha Deemed to be University in Vijayawada, he said classrooms across the country need to evolve into spaces that inspire curiosity and creativity rather than confine students to textbooks and theory.

Mr. Prasanna Kumar stressed that innovation should become a culture, not an occasional event. Integrating innovation, design and entrepreneurship into the curriculum from Class 6 onwards, he said, would help nurture students who think, build and lead.

“Every school and every classroom must encourage students to discuss ideas and showcase them at science fairs and innovation platforms,” he said, adding that India—currently the world’s fourth largest economy—could rise to the No. 1 position by 2027 with such a mindset shift.

Commending Andhra Pradesh’s efforts, Elangovan Kariappan, Assistant Innovation Director at the AICTE Innovation Cell, noted that the State has already established School Innovation Councils in 50% of its schools.

He pointed out that three student projects from Andhra Pradesh made it to the national stage last year, underscoring the State’s growing innovation ecosystem.

Dr. Kariappan further announced that participants of the workshop would be recognised as District Innovation Ambassadors, charged with transforming districts into innovation hubs and schools into innovation labs.

The workshop is being jointly organised by multiple national bodies including the Department of School Education and Literacy (Ministry of Education), AICTE, Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, NCERT, School Innovation Council and the Wadhwani Foundation.

Senior officials and academic leaders including M. Sunita, Head of IT and Vice-President (Research Technology and Development) at Siddhartha Deemed University, and A V Ratna Prasad, President (Higher Education) and Vice-Chancellor, also participated.