PNS
Ranchi
Education experts, researchers, community leaders, filmmakers and civil society representatives from Jharkhand and other Adivasi regions came together in Ranchi on Monday to discuss the purpose of education in indigenous communities at the Ranchi Exploration Circle.
The event was organised by Bengaluru-based non-profit Dream a Dream in partnership with the Network for Education Systems Transformation (NEST), coordinated by the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, USA.
The discussions focused on making education more inclusive by integrating Adivasi identity, language, culture and community knowledge into mainstream learning. Facilitated by global education leader Romana Shaikh, the dialogue encouraged participants to reflect on how education can strengthen identity while preparing children for the future.
Participants shared their educational experiences and stressed the need for learning systems that value local wisdom alongside academic knowledge. Dr. Sreehari Ravindranath of Dream a Dream said the discussions highlighted the importance of community aspirations, local culture and language in shaping education reforms.
The Ranchi meeting is part of a nationwide series of Exploration Circles held since March 2026 in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati and Ranchi, bringing together over 100 education leaders from government, academia and civil society.
Dream a Dream also announced plans to collaborate with the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) and other institutions to establish the Jharkhand Policy Lab, which will support evidence-based education policymaking through research and collaboration with government, practitioners and local communities.
