Chandigarh, July 21: Renowned academician, author and poet Dr. Sazina Khan, who hails from Chandigarh, represented India as a distinguished panelist at the World School Summit 2026, held at the prestigious Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, where global education leaders deliberated on creating future-ready learning systems for the 21st century.
Dr. Khan participated in the panel discussion, “Reframing Education for the Twenty-First Century,” alongside internationally acclaimed educators Aakashee Shah, G Umar Farouq and Silvia Susana Gonzalez. The discussion, moderated by Manvi Khilnani, brought together thought leaders from across the world to examine the evolving role of schools, universities and educators in preparing learners for a rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
During the session, Dr. Khan stressed that education must move beyond rote learning and content-heavy instruction towards competency-based learning that nurtures critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, ethical reasoning and lifelong learning. She emphasised that while knowledge remains fundamental, learners must also develop the ability to apply it responsibly in real-world situations.
Highlighting the importance of curriculum reform, Dr. Khan advocated for stronger vertical and horizontal curriculum alignment to ensure meaningful progression across grades and greater integration between subjects. She also called for assessment systems that evaluate creativity, communication, problem-solving and practical application rather than mere memorisation.
Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence, Dr. Khan said future-ready education must balance technological literacy with empathy, ethics and human values. She also underscored the need for continuous teacher development, describing educators as facilitators of inquiry and architects of meaningful learning experiences.
Reflecting on her participation, Dr. Khan described the invitation to speak at the University of Oxford as both an honour and a responsibility, reaffirming her commitment to advancing inclusive, coherent and globally relevant education that empowers learners to shape the future with knowledge, purpose and compassion.
