The practice of teaching and learning has evolved as an effect of COVID-19 pandemic. Digitalization and technological practices have been at the core of new educational policies. Training children in accordance with their competency, skill set and interest has gained popularity over traditional curriculum. Dr. Latha Murthy is one of those experts who have understood the right way to impart education effectively. Women Entrepreneur India highlights the key insights from the interview with Dr. Latha Murthy, The Founder Chairperson of Empowered Minds Edu Solutions,(LLP)India, Founder of 3E Home School which is one of the divisions of the mother company EMES, and Chairman-President of WEST Education & Social Trust(R) with wide experience in evolving educational practices.

Could You Take Us Through Your Education Journey?
My education has been in India & abroad, as my father was a government employee delegated and deputed to various countries like East Africa, Mauritius, Russia etc. The transition of schools during my elementary and Higher Secondary years with different countries in India and abroad, really gave me a broader perspective and outlook on what education should look like. This foundation had prepared me with complete life skills and at the age of 9 years, I had become a master in all the academic subjects scoring 100 out of 100 kind of marks, with competitive spirits, because the learning was so nice and creative as it developed interest in me! An opportunity to learn 8 different languages was appreciated by my parents and friends. I have primarily been in a convent school with a very good education foundation, till date I remember my teachers who groomed me...now a days we don't have the system of double promotion where in 1970's I had been double promoted twice due to my scores. I learnt different languages like Oriya, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, English, French, Creole...during my childhood. In Dar es Salaam, I studied at O Level University and also completed my Diploma in French. I have completed my MA, PGDPPE, PPTTC, B.Ed. And honored Doctorate in Education. Creativity and innovative practices have been in my thoughts, instead of the conventional chalk-book teaching methods. It's one of the main reasons for me persuading this creative Animation with Thematic Approach using Multiple Intelligence Methodology as a teaching method. My qualification and expertise for more than 3 decades helps cater to the requirement and the need of the hour in the educational Fraternity.

What Are The Highlights In Your Professional Journey Of Over Three Decades And How Did It Influence Your Current Career Choice?
I started my career as a Teacher, then at a very early age rouse up to different positions. I was a Former Director & Principal of various schools. I entered the Pre-primary segment 2 decades ago, as I felt a need to bring a change in teaching methodology which should start from the foundation years. I used my concept, referred as Animation with a Thematic Approach, with Augmented reality which indicates that there are various ways of teaching for the students learning outcome. We must have a conceptual classroom environment where all the children study as a group. For 25 years, I have been serving as the Joint Secretary in Bharat Scouts and Guides, Karnataka. Currently, I am appointed as the Vice President for the Bangalore North Shivajinagar local association region, Karnataka.

I am also involved in politics as it was in my bucket list! I am a passionate Trainer, I have trained more than 8000 teachers for the last 13 years and conducted 28 conferences with training experience for rural area teachers. I founded the animation with the thematic approach by using multiple intelligence methodology. My experience gives me a huge exposure, and I learnt a lot about how a pre-school should be designed, the things required for a pre-school setup and establishment of K-12 Institutions!

“My success mantra is...be positive, be progressive, be confident, and be a change to bring in a change!”

What Was The Roadmap Of Empowered Minds Edu Solutions?
I have a company with my partners, called Empowered Minds Edu Solutions, LLP, an Edu Tech Company supporting educational Institutions with the best education services and technology implementation which is the future. I am the Chairman of a trust named WEST Education & Social Trust(R), a non-profitable organization I have brought schools that had a downfall due to some educational or industrial issues and revived their market status through my consultation. I am currently focused on providing technology solutions to the schools to make them futuristic ready for 21st-century learning using Microsoft solutions. My goal is to ensure gadgets are given to the needy and make the teachers and students enabled through technology in all the Metropolitan schools in India." REACH EVERY CHILD-is my MOTTO, they need us! I have many other projects to increase my reach as a teacher to the students and create an inter communicative dialogue that is also the soul for our WEST Social and Educational Trust Foundation. Empowered Minds Edu Solutions is here to be a change and bring in a change in accordance to the NEP 2020.

Empowered Minds Edu Solutions India, has been formed by 3 Educationists, who can bring a change in the education system to promote 21st Century learning for all. Envisions to provide quality education to all children from K-12 segment of schools. We focus on empowering the students with life skills, creative & innovative skills, which makes them competent to face the competitive world and be future ready.

What According To You Will Be The Future Learning Environment?
Our technology empowerment program for teachers will help them in experiencing the various applications necessary for online and hybrid teaching which is going to be the future learning. We are supporting the schools and the teachers to understand what TECHNOLOGY is providing. Microsoft is a one-stop solution provider for schools which I have come across. It is inclusive of every needed feature like assessments, exams, projects, assignments. This is precisely what Empowered Minds Edu Solutions are doing in the market. I emphasized with my partners that technology empowerment teacher training is crucial for teaching and learning in today's situation. Without a good understanding of the technology, the teachers cannot clarify the concepts and their utilities to the learners.

What Is Your Belief And Success Mantra That Keeps You Going?
I intend to empower and create leaders as every individual has a skill. I have come up with the concept of E-schools as 3E HOME SCHOOL; and 3E WORLD SCHOOL, we believe that we are evolving from the classroom walls and need a safe and secure environment in which the child is sitting and learning. It may be activity-based technological empowerment of the students. It's a future-ready education set-up as per UNESCO's vision of 2020, which made us believe in the use of technology on higher levels as it's an era of AI, IoT, Machine Learning and Robotics etc. We also provide Robotics training which is the support to learning in the Education...Today & Tomorrow! I have been associated with Lawrence Technological University, Michigan as a STEaM Speaker for WISER. My success mantra is...be positive, be progressive, be confident, and be a change to bring in a change!

Dr. Latha Murthy, Empowered Minds Edu Solutions
Founder, Director, Principal, Administrator, Trainer & Educator for 36 years of experience in education industry, and experience in teaching, academics, administration, management, training, curriculum development and leading of schools with various educational based activities. Rich experience in Preschool, CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE & IB curriculum. Passionate individual and served Bharath Scouts and Guides for 14 years as Joint Secretary. Serving BS&G as Vice president, L A, Bangalore. I have created and conceptualized one of the best practices for ECE. Expert in ECCE. Carved a niche in academic Auditing. PAN INDIA CONSULTANT National Coordinator-FOR CED.