Dear Parent,
Let me ask you something:
Your child studies 4 hours daily. Completes all homework. Gets decent marks in tests.
But can they actually think?
I don't mean "recite answers." I mean:
- Solve a problem they've never seen before
- Explain why something works (not just how)
- Apply what they learned to real life
- Think independently when the question changes slightly
If you're hesitating—you're not alone.
And it's not your child's fault. Or even their school's fault.
It's the system.
But here's the thing: CBSE knows this. And they're trying to fix it.
This article covers:
- ✓ The real problem with education today
- ✓ What CBSE is doing to change it
- ✓ Why it's not working in most schools
- ✓ What you can do about it
Part 1: The Problem Nobody Talks About
What's Wrong with How We Teach?
Walk into most coaching centers in Dehradun and you'll see the same thing:
Teacher at blackboard → Students copying → Homework → Test → Repeat
This system has a name: Rote learning. And it creates students who can:
- ✅ Memorize formulas
- ✅ Solve familiar problems
- ✅ Score marks in predictable tests
But it fails to develop students who can:
- ❌ Think independently
- ❌ Solve new problems
- ❌ Apply knowledge to real situations
- ❌ Explain their thinking process
Why This Matters
Let me tell you what happened to one of my students last year.
Smart kid. Studies hard. Always gets 85%+.
But I gave him a simple problem: "If this formula works here, will it work in this slightly different situation? Why or why not?"
Blank stare.
He knew what the formula was. He knew how to use it.
But he had no idea why it worked.
That's the crisis of rote learning.
What International Research Shows
According to Cambridge University Press (one of the world's top education experts), working with CBSE since 2020:
"Schools in India have a content-focused approach to learning which encourages an excessive focus on memorisation."
The report is brutal. It says students are not equipped with:
- Higher order thinking skills (to problem-solve, analyse, evaluate)
- 21st century skills (communication, collaboration)
- Ability to apply knowledge in real-world contexts
Source: British Council-CBSE Competency Based Education Report, 2020 (UK NARIC Report to CBSE)
Part 2: What CBSE Is Actually Trying to Do
CBSE isn't sleeping on this problem. In fact, they're making the biggest change in Indian education in decades.
It's called: Competency-Based Education (CBE)
What Is Competency-Based Education?
Old System
- Focus: Finish syllabus
- Method: Memorize → Test → Forget
- Goal: Get marks
- Assessment: Can you recall this?
New System (CBE)
- Focus: Build skills/competencies
- Method: Understand → Apply → Master
- Goal: Develop thinking skills
- Assessment: Can you use this?
Why This Is a Big Deal
From the Cambridge-CBSE Report:
"For students to be ready for further study and employment anywhere in the world, they must be equipped with higher order thinking skills (to problem-solve, analyse and evaluate) and 21st century skills (such as communicating and collaborating). A competency-based education encourages deep learning of skills and competencies that support this ambition."
Translation for parents:
Your child won't compete based on what they memorized.
They'll compete based on how well they can think.
What CBSE Is Officially Doing
- NEP 2020 (National Education Policy) mandates shift from rote learning to competency-based approach
- CBSE partnered with British Council to train 26,000+ schools in competency-based teaching
- 360 master trainers were trained to roll out CBE in classrooms
- New assessment patterns focusing on application, not just recall
This is happening. This is official. This is real.
But here's where it gets complicated...
Part 3: The Implementation Gap (Why It's Not Working)
CBSE has the right plan. But Cambridge's own research shows massive gaps in implementation.
Challenge #1: Teachers Aren't Trained
"Current capacity of Standard X teachers to provide outcomes-based delivery, reflecting current and past limitations in the teacher training system."
Translation: Most teachers themselves learned through rote method. They don't know how to teach differently.
Challenge #2: Resistance to Change
"Variation in teacher mindset and perceived resistance of teachers and parents to competency-based approaches."
Translation: "We've always done it this way. Why change?"
Challenge #3: Large Batch Sizes
Remember those "personal attention" promises? In reality:
- Batch sizes: 20-30 students
- Time per student: Minimal
- Teaching style: One-size-fits-all
- Focus: Cover syllabus, not build understanding
You can't develop thinking skills in a lecture hall.
Key Finding from Cambridge Report:
"CBSE has taken preliminary steps to move towards a more competency-oriented format... although there are a number of identified areas for further development required to enable full integration of CBE practices."
In plain English: The plan exists. The execution doesn't.
Part 4: Where Design Thinking Comes In
Here's what most people don't know: CBSE didn't just propose competency-based education. They also proposed a specific tool to make it happen: Design Thinking.
"Design Thinking is a method to solve problems using a process that first understands the user's needs, identifies and analyses a problem, researches relevant information, after which ideas are explored and analyzed, until an appropriate innovative solution is arrived at."
— CBSE Design Thinking & Innovation Curriculum 2022
Design Thinking naturally builds competency-based learning through a 5-Step Process:
- ✓ Student-centered learning (not teacher lectures)
- ✓ Interactive & activity-based learning
- ✓ Focus on higher order thinking skills
- ✓ Formative assessment with proper feedback
Guess what method naturally does all of this?
Design Thinking.
Part 5: What Makes EmmBee.One Different
I'm not teaching Design Thinking because it's trendy. I've been practicing it professionally for a decade, solving complex organizational problems internationally.
I don't teach Design Thinking as a subject. I use Design Thinking principles to teach everything.
What This Looks Like in Practice
- 1. "Here's the formula for area of circle: πr²"
- 2. "Memorize it. Solve these 20 problems."
- 3. "Test tomorrow."
- 1. "What real problem does this solve?" (Observe)
- 2. "How would YOU measure it?" (Ideate)
- 3. "Let's test your idea. Why did it work/not work?" (Prototype)
- 4. "Understand why π exists—it's a solution." (Understand)
- 5. "Now solve THIS new problem." (Apply)
One creates students who can recall formulas.
The other creates students who can think mathematically.
Our 4 Core Pillars
Small Batch = Real Attention
Max 10 students. No one gets lost in the crowd. Cambridge Report explicitly recommends groups of 2 to 4 mentored by a teacher. We actually do this.
Competency-Based Teaching
Every concept answers: What problem are we solving? Why does this work? Can you apply this to a new situation?
Studio Environment
Not a lecture hall. A terrace garden studio designed for deep focus, collaboration, and learning by doing.
Beyond Academics
Building communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world awareness—the 21st century skills CBSE demands.
Conclusion: The Choice Is Yours
CBSE is making a historic shift from rote learning to competency-based education. The problem? Most schools and coaching centers haven't caught up.
Your child is stuck in the middle. Getting "taught" the old way. But will be "tested" the new way.
I can't change the system. But I can prepare your child for it.
- ✓ 10 years of Design Thinking practice
- ✓ Small batch of 10 (personal attention guaranteed)
- ✓ Competency-based teaching method
- ✓ 100% refund guarantee if no visible improvement
Manoj Kumar
Founder & Academic Mentor
Nearly 20 years global industry experience (India, Japan, France) as a Solution Architect, AI researcher, and official Design Thinking Mentor. Mission: To bring competency-based learning to Dehradun students exactly what CBSE wants but most schools can't deliver.
Read Full Bio →Key Sources Referenced:
- British Council-CBSE Competency Based Education Report (UK NARIC, 2020)
- Cambridge University Press - Helping Competency-Based Learning Come to Life
- CBSE Design Thinking & Innovation Curriculum
- National Education Policy 2020