“Generation WOW consisting of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, has access to an enormous amount of information, but the challenge is to convert it into knowledge and wisdom,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday. He was speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the International Principals’ Educational Conference (IPEC 2026) organised by The South Public School, Nagpur, at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Nagpur. Dr Nitish Bharadwaj, renowned actor and former Member of Parliament; and Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for School Education were present as guests of honour.

 

Dr Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM, Nagpur; Dr Mrunalini Dasture, Convenor, IPEC; Deaven Dasture, Director, The South Public School; Rajesh Ghai, Managing Director, Sunflower Education; Devish Gala, President, Edu Books division, Navneet Publication, along with members of the advisory committee also shared the dais. Fadnavis, in his address, emphasised that teachers must shape the thinking of the younger generation and help them distinguish between right and wrong in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and information overload. Referring to Generation WOW, ‘World of Wonderful Generations’ Fadnavis said today’s children were born amid an unprecedented information and technology explosion. Unlike millennials, whose lives witnessed the gradual expansion of technology, the younger generation has grown up with smartphones, computers and instant access to information from across the world. “Information is not necessarily knowledge,” he said. The ability to process information, give it an ethical direction and recognise what is right and wrong would determine how effectively the generation used its access to technology, added the

 

Chief Minister. Fadnavis said teachers and school principals had a crucial responsibility to guide children’s thought processes rather than merely impart information. While AI and other technologies could make learning faster and more accessible, he cautioned that they could also mislead users and produce incorrect information. Comparing technology to a horse, he said society should learn to control and direct it rather than fear or reject it. He stressed that ethical awareness, character-building and human values must remain central to education, irrespective of technological advances. Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, in his address, said that the discussions at IPEC had provided valuable insights into the challenges facing the education sector. “Education is not merely about acquiring knowledge; it is also a means of bringing about social transformation,” he said. The programme also featured felicitation of

 

Dr Nitish Bharadwaj with the Sarvottam Nachiketa Puraskar for his contribution to art, culture and thought leadership. The Lifetime Nachiketa Awards were presented to Dr Razia Hussain, founder Principal, MSB Education Institute, Nagpur; and Shraddha Kelapure, former Head Mistress, The South Public School. The Super Nachiketa Awards went to Dr Indira Nainar, Director and Head of Academics at Billabong High International School, Mumbai; and Kanchan Ukey, Principal of Centre Point School, Wardhaman Nagar, Nagpur. The Best Paper Awards for innovative educational practices were presented to delegates representing schools in Pusad, Nagpur, Mumbai, Koradi, Noida and Butibori. The awardees included Radha Dhagamwar, Digvijay Dasture, Dr Vivian Wilson Lobo, Dr Ashirwad Satyam, Jayashri Bhake, Sarbani Bose, Dr Akanksha Wasnik, Mangesh Chinewar, Dr Smita Mishra, Dr Unnati Datar and Anupama D’Souza. Fadnavis also released Patheya, The Golden Elixir, an e-souvenir compiling scholarly papers presented at the three-day conference.