Vikas Pota
We’ve got an incredible conversation with Vikas Pota, Founder & CEO of T4 Education. T4 is a digital platform he established as a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic on education, globally.
Who is your mentor?
I’ve always been a visual learner, a relational learner. I’ve always sought out people who can mentor me. Some are constant long-term friends. When I first got into the education world I had no background in the sector, and I relied on others who I got to know. I sought advice from people. Top of mind is Karen Giles who is a principal at a state school in Wembley. She’s always struck me as an incredible leader. There are many other people I rely upon around the world.
Let’s go back, tell us a bit about your own education and background.
People think I have an amazing background, I don’t! I found myself in the classroom unable to connect the dots. I didn’t get as much success as I would have liked. My background is sketchy. Ultimately, however, my commitment to education came from a ‘penny drop moment’ that if we don’t fundamentally address how to properly engage young people, we will have really let ourselves down.
Do we have enough relational learning?
I think no and we need more. I think of Andria Zafirakou who won the Global Teacher prize, $1million prize for a teacher. She lives in a very diverse community in Northwest London. Lots of the kids come from very challenging and diverse contexts. She was able to use art to connect the dots for other academic areas for these kids. She set up a charity called ‘Artist in Residence’. Schools have limited social equity in their local area. They don’t have the networks or the relationships. Artists came in to be artists in residence. This resulted in clear and improved outcomes for students. What we need is improved networks and developed social equity.
You founded T4 Education. Why?
We were at the beginning of the pandemic. People were struggling. All teachers were saying the same thing: what does the new normal mean for us? Leadership, collaboration, wellbeing and technology: those were the four pillars. 103,000 teachers showed up to our first meeting.
People come because of community. Communities are so enriching. They are a dynamic form of organisation. They want to be part of something bigger. We gave space, teachers are curious and hungry for that. So now we see T4 as a community platform.
There’s so much focus on top-down reform in the UK and we don’t take the workforce along with us. You must find a way to work directly with those at the coal face.
You’ve worked with teachers across the world. What are the most common problems you think they face, regardless of setting?
We have a teacher recruitment/retention crisis, and to address it we would be much better off trying to solve positive school culture. The softer connective tissue of culture is the force multiplier that allows great outcomes to be achieved. Schools that were shortlisted for our mischievously named ‘World’s Best School’ were unified in having understood the value of a good school culture.
What is the relationship between education and business?
The commonality is that we’re bad at communicating, it doesn’t matter what kind of organisation you are. Moreover, no matter whether it’s an NGO, or a school, the hallmark of a great leader is their ability to communicate well.
What’s your take on the tuition?
I’ve spent so much money on it for my own kids but I kind of wish we didn’t need it! The world of AI is interesting. Personalised chatbots for every student is the latest initiative I’ve heard about, and it strikes me there’s a growing place for that kind of intervention. More generally, there may not be a need for tuition but there’s a need for mentoring.
What’s next for you?
I think we should all be focused on breaking the apathy that has accumulated around education. I was having dinner the other day with the Global Education Director of the World Bank and whilst institutions like that have ‘upped their game’ in education investment, governments haven’t. It’s about asking the right questions and forcing politicians to face them.
Whatever the question, education is the answer.