Sumeet Mehta, CEO, Lead School, on the needs and realities of India’s schools

• 16 Nov 2024

Sumeet Mehta, CEO, Lead School

 

At LEAD Group, we are deeply committed to understanding and solving for the needs and realities of India’s schools. Our research shows that established schools in metropolitan and Tier 1 cities, especially those that enjoy a strong reputation among parents, continually seek ways to elevate their academic standards and distinguish themselves further. These schools are committed to innovation and are often keen to adopt modern educational technologies and resources to enhance student learning outcomes. Pinnacle has been developed specifically for this segment of new-age schools.  It combines research-based pedagogy and cutting-edge technology to deliver academic excellence to these institutions.

 

How do you position Pinnacle against established competitors in the industry?
LEAD Group is already ahead of the curve in many ways.  As India’s largest and fastest-growing School Edtech company, LEAD Group has been working with schools in 400+ towns and cities across India for the past 12+ years.  Pinnacle combines our learnings and insights from years of research and School Education expertise. 

 

1.The TECHBOOK – Intelligent books that leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality to bring personalised, adaptive and immersive learning to Indian classrooms for the first time.  The TECHBOOK brings three cutting-edge technologies and an aligned curriculum to transform traditional textbook-driven learning.

a. Augmented Reality: Traditional 2D textbooks limit students' ability to grasp complex concepts that are inherently 3D in nature. The TECHBOOK brings subjects such as Science and Mathematics to life with ARI (Augmented Reality Instructor), enabling students to interact with topics in 3D.

b. Personalised Reading Fluency: For language learning, TECHBOOK’s IRA (Independent Reading Assistant) acts as a personal tutor, reading books aloud to students, while also listening to a student’s reading and providing real-time feedback on their reading fluency and pronunciation

c. Personalised Practice: With PIE (Personalised Interactive Exercises), students get limitless exercises that are adaptive in nature. So, students can master subjects at their own pace, making learning fun and continuous.

 

2. NCF 2023-aligned books with world-renowned pedagogies for English, Science, Math and Social Studies

a. ‘Englica’ - builds advanced English comprehension skills and independent writing skills in students, in addition to holistic language skills of vocabulary, phonics, reading, listening, speaking, writing and grammar.  All texts for every grade have been chosen based on their Lexile level to ensure grade- appropriateness and have been grouped into themes ranging from ‘me’ outwards to ‘the earth’

b. ‘Mathematica’ – uses the Concrete Pictorial Abstract approach to boost Mathematical thinking

c.‘Scientifica’ – builds scientific temper in students with experiments, investigations, hands on activities, role plays and models

 

3. CODE.AI - Designed for today’s digital natives, CODE.AI is the only NCF-aligned coding and AI program for India’s schools that focuses on creating technology builders versus consumers.  Moreover, it includes a cloud-based Coding platform for students, with 18 projects per grade and in-lab and at-home access so that students can code at home and parents can see their work. CODE.AI covers Generative AI and AI.  It also includes a LIVE teacher view of all student portfolios which helps teachers review student progress in real time

 

4. LEAD Group Academy - A blended learning program for teachers with state-of-the-art courses and regular training by experts

 

5. A comprehensive school dashboard offering real-time insights into teachers' use of blended resources and their training progress; and assessment creation

 

6. A student app that enables gamified, at-home learning with videos, exercise and practice, and covers all subjects

 

7. AI-based, customizable assessments that can be generated in only three clicks!

 

How do you stay ahead of technological trends to ensure Pinnacle remains relevant and cutting-edge?
Please see above.

 

How do you ensure that your brand remains user-friendly for educators, administrators, and students alike?
Pinnacle by LEAD Group is meticulously crafted to meet the demands of new-age school stakeholders, including school administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Prioritising simplicity, accessibility, and ease of use, Pinnacle incorporates years of research in pedagogy and technology, creating a seamless system that addresses contemporary educational needs. Most importantly, it propels schools into the future with internationally benchmarked education technology and a high-quality curriculum that aligns with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2023). This ensures that each student not only excels academically but also develops critical skills for the digital age, making Pinnacle a transformative solution for academic excellence that keeps schools ahead of the curve.

 

What regions do you currently cater to for your business?
Pinnacle caters to schools across India, ensuring that student’s nationwide benefit from future-focused, new-age academic programs.

 

How do you address data security and privacy concerns, especially with increasing scrutiny on digital platforms?
Data security and privacy are a top priority for us.  We adhere to stringent data protection protocols and regularly update our systems to meet regulatory standards.

 

How does your brand Pinnacle contribute to making education more accessible and inclusive in India?
Pinnacle makes technology-led, personalised, new-age academic excellence available to schools across India. By catering to the full range of school stakeholder requirements, we’re making inclusive advancements in education access for students across India.

 

What are your long-term goals for the company, and where do you see the industry heading in the next 5-10 years?
In the mid-long term, we envision Pinnacle leading India’s transformation towards personalised, immersive and adaptive education powered by technologies such as AI and AR.  As India’s schools transform to deliver multi-modal, high-quality education at scale, LEAD Group will be at the forefront of this shift, empowering schools and delivering improved student learning outcomes.