In his seminal book “Pedagogy of the Oppressed,” the famous Brazilian educator and philosopher Paulo Freire states that education should be a means to "the practice of freedom”, suggesting that those engaged in education—both educators and students—should find critical and creative ways to participate in the process of transformation of their society. Although published more than 50 years ago, Freire’s ideas on the role of education and educators are equally relevant at present.

The lockdown imposed to control the highly contagious COVID-19 has been extended yet another time till June 14. As the viral infection has been increasingly affecting people across the country - even taking their lives - it is uncertain how long this order of home confinement will continue. The uncertainty is all the more telling in the education sector, which is expected to be the last one to open even if the movement restriction is lifted.

Rising cases of suicide by students for failing the exams calls for immediate incorporation of emotional and psychological counseling in our pedagogy