A review of Rawal, S. Play Practice (2023) Pursue 10-day Bagless School Approach to Pre-vocational: A Practical Handbook for Schools and Teachers. Himalaya Publishing House

Abstract

This inspiring and invigorating book provides insights into education, especially curriculum development and assessment. The narrative in the book is that of the author, Swaroop Sampat Rawal, an Indian educator and leader on children’s education. It provides a scholarly discourse on education and associated theories from Eastern and Western traditions plus a golden opportunity to better understand various traditions in India of spirituality and improving educational practice and professionalism through those lenses. The book is a welcoming and refreshing introduction to the complex ideas and thoughts on spirituality in India and other countries that embrace Indian traditions. The author clearly enunciates her thoughts about how her bagless school concept has morphed into curriculum and programmes of work. The book has four parts. Part 1 introduces the ‘bagless’ school concept from the dynamics of pre-vocational education in India’s National Education Policy (NEP), 2020; Part 2 discusses designing a pre-vocational approach of a bagless school curriculum for a holistic and learner-centered curriculum. Part 3 offers a detailed classroom illustration relating theory to practice. Part 4 is the epilogue in which the author shares with us her insights, reflections, and thoughts, including re-presenting her living-educational-theory.