"Teaching kids to care is just as important as teaching them to calculate."

In an age where digital narratives are often dominated by conflict, polarization, and ideological rigidity, the responsibility of education extends far beyond the transmission of academic content. For Dr. Ram Mohan, Principal of Suditi Global Academy and CBSE City Coordinator for multiple districts in Uttar Pradesh, the classroom is not just a space for learning formulas and facts—it's where the foundations of democracy, empathy, and civic responsibility are laid.

As the world grapples with growing divides, the urgency for robust, value-based civics education has never been more pronounced. Dr. Mohan strongly believes schools must become frontline institutions for nurturing informed, responsible, and engaged citizens. Under his leadership, Suditi Global Academy in Mainpuri has taken decisive and innovative steps to redefine civics education in schools for 21st-century learners.

Civics Beyond the Textbook

Traditional civics education often focuses narrowly on governmental structures, legal frameworks, and constitutional articles. While these are undeniably essential, Dr. Mohan emphasizes that true civic learning goes deeper. It involves understanding rights and responsibilities, respecting diverse perspectives, and fostering the capacity to engage meaningfully in public life.

At Suditi Global Academy, civics is taught not as a subject to be memorized but as a way of life. Students are introduced to the core tenets of democracy not only through theory but also through active participation. The curriculum is designed to develop critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and emotional intelligence—qualities essential for responsible citizenship education in an increasingly complex world.

From Classrooms to Community: Active Learning in Action

Suditi Global Academy integrates various experiential learning civics platforms to bring civic concepts alive. Students engage in:

• Debates and Discussions on current affairs and constitutional values
• Mock Parliaments that simulate legislative processes and teach negotiation and consensus-building
• Model United Nations (MUNs) that expose students to global diplomacy and multilateral thinking
• Social Awareness Drives that encourage students to take initiative in addressing local community issues

These programs provide students with firsthand experience of student-led civic engagement. According to Dr. Mohan, this practical exposure allows students to move from passive recipients of information to active participants in democracy.

Learning from the Real World

One of the most impactful strategies implemented at Suditi Global Academy is organizing regular interactions with local government officials, legal professionals, and social activists. These sessions provide students with authentic insights into how public systems operate and how policies impact their daily lives.

By hearing from those who operate within and influence the civic space, students understand governance as a living, breathing entity—not something confined to textbooks. They learn to ask questions, evaluate policies, and imagine solutions, bridging the gap between theory and application.

Dr. Mohan believes such exposure helps students envision themselves as future leaders, lawmakers, and changemakers.

A Culture of Dialogue and Democratic Values

In today’s polarized climate, schools must nurture a culture of civil discourse and mutual respect. At Suditi Global Academy, democratic educational values are embedded in both the curriculum and ethos.

Classroom environments are structured to encourage open discussion, respectful disagreement, and collective decision-making. Programs centered on constitutional values, national integration, voting rights, and social justice school programs are regularly conducted to promote inclusivity and ethical awareness.

Dr. Mohan underscores the importance of modeling these values through school policies and teacher behavior.

"Children observe more than they are taught," he notes. "If we want them to value democracy, they must experience it every day—within their school."

Empowered Teachers, Empowered Learners

A critical factor in the success of this civic transformation has been teacher training in civics. Suditi Global Academy aligns its practices with CBSE civics curriculum and the NEP 2020 civics reforms, which advocate for experiential and values-based education.

Educators are trained not just in pedagogy but also in empathy, inclusive language, and facilitating critical conversations in the classroom. The aim is to equip teachers to guide students through the complexities of modern civic life, from understanding electoral systems to navigating social media responsibly.

The focus is on preparing students for real-world participation—whether that means voting thoughtfully, voicing community concerns, or simply being informed digital citizens.

Nurturing Resilience in a Polarized World

The world that students are growing into has competing ideologies, contested truths, and heightened sensitivities. Dr. Mohan highlights that students will either disengage from civic life or contribute to its further polarization without the ability to empathize, evaluate critically, and communicate constructively.

Civics education, when taught through the lens of values and practical engagement, offers a powerful antidote to erasing civic engagement. It teaches students to navigate differences with grace, respond to injustice with courage, and participate in nation-building with purpose.

Shaping Citizens of Tomorrow

By embedding civic learning into the heart of its education model, Suditi Global Academy produces well-informed students and morally grounded individuals. These are future voters, public servants, lawyers, educators, and activists who understand that democracy is not a spectator sport but a collective endeavor that requires participation, patience, and principle.

Dr. Mohan’s vision is rooted in the belief that democracy does not thrive merely in courtrooms, legislative assemblies, or ballot boxes.

It thrives in classrooms, where every child is encouraged to think critically, feel deeply, and act responsibly.

A Model for Modern India

Suditi Global Academy is a beacon of progressive civics education today, offering a replicable model for other schools across India. In an era of increasing political noise and social complexity, its approach demonstrates that civic engagement must begin early and be taken seriously.

Dr. Ram Mohan’s work, both as Principal and CBSE City Coordinator, is driven by a singular belief—that education must teach students how the world works and empower them to change it for the better.