Gen Z’s voice must lead to a humane education system (John Varghese)

What happened: calls for humane, competency-based admissions and assessment

Former principal John Varghese argues that India’s education and admissions system should stop using rank-based filtering and single-shot competitive examinations as the dominant pathway to opportunity. The author connects competitive exam pressure with student distress and an emotionally harmful environment, and calls for admissions that recognise real competence while protecting student wellbeing.

Background and earlier position: mark-and-rank dominance in admissions

What changed now (policy-style proposals): multi-dimensional assessment and decentralised design within norms

The opinion proposes admissions evaluation designed to test more than memory and speed. Suggested components include moderated school performance, discipline/subject-specific aptitude, analytical writing, and structured interviews where appropriate. The author also suggests practical or scenario-based tasks and verifiable portfolios or projects, including internships, community work, and co-curricular achievements.

The opinion describes the target as assessment beyond academic speed. The proposed evaluation aims to capture reasoning, persistence, communication, judgment, ethical orientation, and suitability for the chosen field.