Lecture 4 : NEP Lecture Series: Situating Life Skills Education in NEP 2020 for Transformative Learning
Lecture 4 of the NEP Lecture Series was organised on 19 December 2025 as a collaborative academic initiative of the Centre for Life Skills, Loreto College, Kolkata, and the Indian Association of Life Skills Education. Anchored in the overarching theme "Situating Life Skills Education in NEP 2020 for Transformative Learning", the session sought to deepen understanding of the role of values and life skills in achieving the holistic vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The programme began with a formal welcome and contextual introduction by Ms. Tania Mondal, who highlighted the objectives of the ongoing lecture series and its alignment with NEP 2020's focus on inclusive, learner-centric, and value-oriented education. The presidential address was delivered by Dr. A. Radhakrishnan Nair, President, IALSE, who emphasised that life skills education is a foundational pillar of NEP 2020. He underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and awareness-building to empower learners and nurture responsible citizens capable of responding to contemporary global and national challenges.
The keynote deliberation was delivered by Professor Suman Kumar, Professor of Political Science, University of Delhi, on the theme "Universal Human Values and Life Skills: Reflections on NEP 2020". He highlighted the inseparable relationship between life skills and universal human values, drawing upon the Indian Knowledge System and constitutional ideals. The deliberation addressed critical contemporary concerns such as ethical challenges in the age of artificial intelligence, the relevance of decolonising life skills education, and the need to contextualise learning within indigenous traditions and social realities.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion followed by a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Gauri Hardikar. Lecture 4 reaffirmed the centrality of values-based life skills education in realising the transformative goals of NEP 2020.
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