On Wednesday the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu called for reorientation of the education system to make students think rationally and independently to enable them to face the challenges in life with equanimity.
A truly holistic education balances the head, heart, body, and spirit.
"The child should not only be able to acquire and absorb knowledge but should also be able to apply the knowledge in real life situation," said Naidu.
The Vice President recalled that India had a great tradition of 'Guru Shishya Parampara' in which teachers and students used to live together and engage in a constant dialogue.
Such great tradition should be reflected in our modern education system.
Naidu said that Education system must allow children enjoy schooling and make them lifelong learners.
He said that true learning takes place through "observation", "reading", "discussion", "reflection", "analysing" and "synthesizing". He said that the reoriented curriculum must focus on aspects that make a child curious, creative, caring, communicative, confident and capable.
The Vice President said that in today's increasing complex world, teachers should not just guide students in academics alone but also help them to develop life skills that are essential to successfully navigate.
Some form of physical activity or exercise was a precondition to stay healthy, the Vice President said that sports education should be accorded greater importance by educationists and parents.
Students must spend 50 percent of their schooling hours outside the classrooms, said by him.