HYDERABAD: International education is more relevant today than it has ever been. The world is becoming more global, cultural barriers are getting smashed and an International baccalaureate is crucial for such times,” said Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, a British and Australian citizen, and Head of the Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad, on the occasion of the academy touching its 25th year this month.
Speaking to the press to celebrate the milestone year, Dr. Fisher, a British and Australian citizen and currently serving his fourth year as Head of Academy said he was drawn to the vision of the academy and the learning concept that bridges the worlds of education and development. Dr Fisher has 24 years of experience in running IB schools and has worked in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Egypt, the UK etc.
Comparing education in India to that abroad, he said, “The Indian education culture emphasises on examinations – national examination, central board examination, state board etc. In America there are no final examinations, yet students are competent of charting out their lives when they leave school. Indian parents want their children to reproduce the information they have learnt instead of focussing on what they have learnt or the wisdom they have gained,” Dr. Fisher added. In Indian education system, students have to read the entire textbook without any understanding of it.
“The major drawback of the education system was lack of global outlook. The need of the hour is modern education with global outlook”, he added. Residential education, he said, is a powerful form of education as students get to learn the lessons of discipline while also getting to enjoy freedom and stay motivated. He also took the opportunity to wish Aga Khan, founder of the academy, on his birthday which falls on Wednesday.