From Classrooms to the Future: Kotak Education Foundation’s Manthan 2026 Unites the Education Ecosystem to Reimagine Learning for the Next Billion

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 23:Manthan 2026, the Kotak Education Foundation’s (KEF) yearly flagship education showcase, brought together educators, policymakers, government officials, school administrators, teachers, students, and partners from all over India to reflect, discuss, and jointly develop pathways for inclusive and future-ready education.

Anchored in the theme “Reimagining Education for the Next Billion,” Manthan 2026 emerged as a powerful convergence of ideas, lived experiences, data, and voices from the ground—placing children, teachers, and communities at the heart of systemic change.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Swaroop Sampat, Chief Guest spoke on the intersections of creativity, education, and policy, urging stakeholders to keep learning deeply human, joyful, and rooted in purpose.

Faye D’Souza, award-winning Indian journalist and Chief Guest for the second segment of Manthan 2026, addressed the audience on how classroom education must continuously evolve to remain relevant, inclusive, and responsive to the realities of today’s world.

A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of KEF’s coffee table book, Beacons of Change: Journeys of Hope, Learning, and Impact, a curated documentation of stories from the field that reflect the Foundation’s commitment to dignity, agency, and scalable impact. The book was unveiled by Ganesh Raja, CEO, KEF; Jayasree Ramesh, COO (Education), KEF; Kavita Sanghvi, Director & COO (Education), KEF; Farhiz Panthaky, Kshamata Project Head; Himanshu Nivsarkar, Senior Executive Vice President – Head CSR & ESG, Kotak Mahindra Bank; Ridhi Bhatia, Senior Vice President – Group CSR, along with the Chief Guest, Dr. Swaroop Sampat, educationist, theatre practitioner, and Padma Shri awardee.

For the very first time, government education authorities from Maharashtra, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh participated in Manthan at scale, reinforcing its role as a collaborative platform for systemic dialogue. Distinguished attendees included senior representatives from SCERT, SIEM, DIET, RAA, TRTI, APSWREIS, and PM SHRI schools, representing leadership across academic design, teacher education, and school transformation.

Key government representatives present included Ms. Sambana Rupavathi, Joint Secretary (Academic & Health), APSWREIS, Andhra Pradesh; Mr. Govindraj Desai, State Coordinator for Teacher Education and Nodal Officer, Goa SCERT; Ms. Shailaja Darade, Director, SIEM/RAA, State Institute of English for Maharashtra, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; Ms. Manisha Pawar, Deputy Director, Regional Academic Authority (RAA – Mumbai); Mr. Vijay Gund, Senior Lecturer, TRTI; Ms. Sunita Katam, Subject Assistant, IQC Department, SCERT Maharashtra; Mr. Arun Jadhav, Deputy Director, SCERT Maharashtra; Ms. Sulabha Balgare, Ex-Education Officer; along with senior faculty and principals from SIEM and DIET, including Dr. Vishal Gorakhnath Tayde; Dr. Rajendra Dhondiba Kamble; Dr. Sanvi Raghunath Deshmukh; Dr. Sambhaji Bhojane; Mr. Jitendra Salunkhe; Mr. Rajesh Rudrakar; Dr. Sanjay Wagh; Dr. Yogesh Survase; Dr. Satish Pharande; Mr. Subhash Buwa; Dr. Irfan Inamdar; and Dr. Gajendra Jamadar, among others.

The event witnessed the enthusiastic participation of over 500 students from underserved communities, while 38 partner schools showcased their work through immersive displays and performances—bringing classroom innovation to life.

The day-long convening opened with stirring performances by students from government schools in Thane and Palghar districts, symbolising the transformative power of belief, opportunity, and sustained educational support. Learners from migrant, tribal, and farming communities took centre stage, demonstrating confidence, creativity, and aspiration—outcomes of consistent, context-sensitive interventions.

Manthan 2026 also spotlighted KEF’s Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) initiatives aligned with NEP 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat Mission, alongside its Communicative English–Future Readiness (CE–FR) programmes. These segments came alive through student-led musicals, educator narratives, and impact films, underscoring how early learning, confidence, and language shape long-term outcomes.

With KEF’s FLN footprint now extending to over 800 schools across Maharashtra and Gujarat, the musical “The World of Tomorrow” reflected the evolving purpose of education—shifting the focus from what children learn to how they learn, as they prepare for an uncertain and rapidly changing future.

The CE–FR Lion King musical, performed by 320 students from 16 underserved schools, seamlessly integrated creative storytelling with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through enactments, dance, and music, students highlighted themes of environmental conservation, responsible consumption, and inclusive communities.

The latter half of the day celebrated partnerships and people, with the felicitation of Buddy Principals, Idol Principals, Master Trainers, and teachers through the Teacher Innovation Awards, recognising educators as the true architects of change within classrooms.

Reflecting on the event, KEF leadership reiterated that Manthan is not merely a showcase, but a shared commitment—one that calls for continuous reflection, collaboration, and collective action across the education ecosystem. For Kotak Education Foundation and its partners, the path forward lies in sustained collaboration, inclusive design, and keeping learners—and those who enable them—at the centre of every decision.