As India’s schools transition to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023, questions remain over how policy intent translates into everyday classroom practice. In this interview, Atishay Jain, managing partner of Koncept Global Books, discusses the gap between NEP claims and implementation, the evolving role of textbooks, and why execution—not compliance—will define the future of school education.
What market gap did you identify between NEP/NCF intent and classroom reality, and how did it lead to Koncept Global Books?
When NEP 2020 and NCF 2023 were announced, the vision was clear—competency-based learning, reduced content load, experiential learning, and assessment for learning. On paper, it marked a decisive shift.
However, in classrooms, the change was largely cosmetic. Most textbooks were re-labelled rather than redesigned. Chapters were renamed, NEP terminology was added, but teaching remained content-heavy and exam-driven. Teachers were asked to “implement NEP” without being given the time, tools, or practical guidance to do so. Manuals, where they existed, were often theoretical and impractical for real classrooms.
This disconnect between policy intent and classroom reality was the core gap. Koncept Global Books was founded to address that. Instead of selling “NEP-compliant” books, we design every resource backwards—from classroom time, teacher workload, and student learning behaviour. Content, activities, assessments, and teacher support are built as one integrated system.
In a digital-first world, how is the role of the physical textbook changing?
The textbook is no longer meant to deliver information. Students already have access to unlimited content. Its real role today is to provide structure, focus, and direction.
A modern textbook must act as a learning anchor—clearly defining what to learn, in what sequence, to what depth, and why it matters. In a noisy digital environment, this clarity is its greatest strength.
The value lies in shaping thinking pathways, not listing facts. Well-designed questions, real-life contexts, and guided prompts help students apply ideas rather than memorise them. Textbooks should be intent-driven, not content-heavy.
Rather than competing with technology, the textbook should orchestrate it—deciding when digital tools add value and when discussion or reflection works better. Most importantly, it must respect classroom reality by reducing planning load and fitting within fixed periods.
How do you ensure your resources consistently meet the standards promised during research?
We rely on process discipline, not assumptions. It starts with ground-level research—inputs from teachers, classrooms, and school leaders. These are converted into clear, written deliverables before development begins.
The key question is simple: Can this be taught comfortably tomorrow?
Each book follows a fixed academic blueprint where learning outcomes, competencies, activity flow, assessment intent, and teacher support are locked upfront. Chapters go through multiple checks: concept clarity, classroom-time fit, teacher effort required, and assessment usefulness.
We evaluate content from a teacher’s perspective. The key question is simple: Can this be taught comfortably tomorrow? If not, it is revised or dropped. Central academic oversight ensures consistency across grades and subjects.
What is your five-year vision for Koncept Global Books?
Our goal is to become a holistic K–8 education partner, not just a textbook publisher. At the core, we will continue building classroom-ready learning systems from pre-primary to Grade 8, ensuring continuity and progression across years.
Beyond academics, we will integrate digital literacy, critical thinking, communication skills, values education, social-emotional learning, and wellbeing into daily classroom practice—not as add-ons.
We also see teacher and institutional support as central—through professional development, implementation frameworks, and assessment guidance. Technology will act as an enabler, while the physical textbook remains the learning anchor that provides structure and discipline.
How does Koncept aim to become a one-stop partner for schools?
By taking ownership of outcomes, not just supplying resources. We operate on a single, unified learning philosophy across grades, so schools don’t need to mix methodologies or retrain teachers repeatedly.
Curriculum, textbooks, activities, assessments, manuals, and digital tools are designed together. Teacher manuals are operational and classroom-ready. Assessment is embedded into daily learning, providing feedback without extra burden.
Technology works quietly in the background, while the textbook anchors pace and intent. Most importantly, the partnership continues beyond adoption, with feedback loops and refinement.
In essence, schools partner once because methodology, execution, and efficacy are already built in—allowing educators to focus on teaching, not managing complexity.
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