By Kumari Shibulal
For many children growing up in families where survival takes priority over schooling, the first day of class is more than just an introduction to letters and numbers. It is often their very first step into a world their parents never entered. Imagine being the first in your family to hold a pencil or open a storybook — that moment carries a weight far beyond academics. These children face not only academic hurdles but also social and emotional barriers shaped by inequality. For them, school is not simply a place of academic instruction. It becomes a space where they can feel safe, respected, and encouraged to dream. A space where they develop confidence, identity, and life skills.
More Than Marks and Exams
Too often, schools are reduced to report cards and test scores. Parents anxiously compare grades, teachers push for better ranks, and children begin to believe their worth can be summed up in a number. But true education is much deeper. It is about nurturing confidence, building values, and preparing children to face life.
For first-generation learners, this is particularly vital. Their homes may not provide shelves filled with books or parents who can help with homework. They rely on schools not only for academics but also for emotional encouragement, healthy meals, and guidance on how to grow as complete human beings.
Respect Builds Confidence
Ankita was a quiet girl who rarely raised her hand in class. Her teacher encouraged her gently, inviting her into group activities without pressure. One day, she answered a question, and her classmates clapped. Ankita’s eyes lit up. That small gesture of respect and recognition gave her the confidence she had been missing. From that moment, she began to believe that her voice mattered.
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are often viewed with sympathy. But beyond sympathy, they need to be listened to—with both eyes and ears. A simple act of truly listening can change everything.
Creativity Opens New Doors
Every child has imagination within them, but not every child feels free to express it. In nurturing schools, mistakes aren’t failures, they’re stepping stones to learning. Children are encouraged to sing, sketch, act, and tell stories and in doing so, they discover courage.
For some, reading may always feel like a struggle, but they might shine in drawing or performing. When teachers proudly display their artwork, these children feel seen and valued. Gradually, that sense of pride spills into academics, and they find the courage to read aloud in class. For them, creativity becomes the bridge to discovering their other strengths.
Responsibility Shapes Character
Books alone cannot teach children how to live with integrity. Responsibility, practiced daily, quietly shapes character. In supportive classrooms, students are trusted with small meaningful roles: keeping the classroom neat, helping younger children, or sharing food with a classmate. Over time, these habits instill ownership and teamwork.
In one school, older children organized financial literacy sessions for the housekeeping staff. From designing lesson plans, to conducting the classes, the students handled everything. Experiences like these build far more than academic knowledge. They discover leadership and collaboration, strengthen confidence and communication skills and develop empathy and social responsibility. Just as importantly, it gives them a sense of dignity—shifting their self-perception from being passive recipients of support to becoming active contributors and changemakers.
Beyond the Classroom
The true strength of nurturing schools often lies outside textbooks. A wholesome meal, regular health check-ups, or a kind word from a teacher may sound ordinary, but for children whose families struggle to meet basic needs, these gestures are life changing. A plate of food can mean the energy to focus. A kind word can dissolve fear. Over time, shy students start to speak up, children burdened by self-doubt begin to believe in themselves, and some even step up as leaders in their communities.
Policies Strengthening the Vision
India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 strengthens this vision by promoting equity and inclusion through early childhood care, scholarships, better infrastructure, and technology-driven learning. With reforms designed to support disadvantaged children, schools can steadily become more welcoming and inclusive.
Policy must be matched with practice: better training for teachers on the frontlines, greater involvement of local communities, empowering and equipping education leaders to lead change and thoughtful use of technology. If we get this right, “Education for All” will no longer remain a promise on paper, but a reality that reshapes classrooms and opens brighter futures for millions of young lives.
The Bigger Impact
When first-generation learners thrive, the ripple effects spread beyond the classroom. Some return as teachers to guide the next generation. Others pursue different professions but carry with them the values of respect, creativity, and responsibility. In either case, they inspire their families and communities to dream bigger.
This is what makes nurturing schools transformative as they don’t just change individual lives, they uplift entire communities.
A Call to Reimagine Education
If we want every child to flourish, we must reimagine schools not as score-oriented models but as homes of possibility. Education is not about producing perfect report cards; it is about raising children who are confident, compassionate, and ready to contribute to society. For first-generation learners, such schools can mean the difference between simply surviving and truly thriving.
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(The Author: Kumari Shibulal, Founder & Chairperson, SFPI – Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives)
