I could not have picked up this book Every Child CAN at a better time. With NEP and NCF trying to make a paradigm shift in the educational process, this book demonstrates a change that was achieved not by accident but by design.

The style of writing is simple narrative with case studies and innumerable examples to drive home the point. If you are genuinely interested in making a change, you would find it hard to put the book down.

The author elaborates the 4 habits needed for Cultivating the Design mind set.
Habit 1 stay curious start with Empathy
Habit 2 Co-create Negotiate
Habit 3 Start small Grow Big
Habit 4 show not tell

Author goes on to mention a simplified 4 step process represented by the acronym FIDS
Where F stands for Feel .
I for Imagine
D for Do
S for Share

What struck me most was the Time Table the brain of the school system that holds the innumerable stakeholders together is used as a conscience keeper. The holistic and experiential learning makes the young minds realise ‘Being the change changes the being’.

The school is compared to a garden. The Head of the school by default becomes a gardener. There is a need to water the plants but not so much that It drowns the plant. The manure, the soil these also need nourishment. Finally, not all plants require a similar treatment. This is just what NEP talks about under differentiation.
The author stresses on the need for Role modelling.. ‘Children have never been good at listening to their elders but they have never failed to imitate them’. This statement speaks volumes.

Another interesting concept is the Identity Curriculum. The underlying premise here is that our children have to believe that they are remarkable and not just markable. Perhaps this would bring an end to young minds giving up on their lives.

‘Every child CAN’ is a Page turner.