Beyond Intelligence: Experts say planning and prioritisation decide student success

Students juggle academic assignments, extracurricular activities and career planning every day. Yet few are ever taught how to organise all this. Two education leaders explain why getting things done is a skill and how students can build it.

A life skill that no one teaches

Mr. Praneet Mungali, Trustee, Sanskriti Group of Schools, Pune: "Being able to carry out tasks efficiently is one of the top life skills students must attain, although no one provides guidance for that in conventional educational setups.

Success in life in particular, and in education in general, is not only influenced by intelligence or diligence but also by how well an individual is able to plan and organise his/her work, prioritise tasks and be responsible."

Ambition alone is not enough

Mr. Mungali says, "The students are required to cope with numerous tasks every day ranging from academic assignments to extracurricular activities and planning their future careers. While some students are very ambitious and motivated, successful time management is a struggle for them.

That is why teaching them how to manage time allows students to divide large undertakings into feasible units, while teaching them how to give priority to things allows them to make distinctions between what has to be done right now and what can wait."

Getting things done is a skill

Dr. Somnath P. Patil, Pro-Chancellor, Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU), by Dr. D. Y. Patil Group, Pune: "Most students do not struggle because they lack intelligence. They struggle because they have not learned to organise their time and effort.

Getting things done is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with practice."

Planning comes first

"A student should know what needs to be done this week, this month and this semester. Writing it in a simple diary is enough. A plan need not be perfect, but it should exist, otherwise the day is decided by whatever comes first and not by what matters most," says Dr. Patil.

Prioritise what matters

Dr. Patil adds, "Everything cannot be done at once, and every task does not carry the same weight. Students should ask what is urgent, what is important and what can wait. Learning to ignore small distractions, such as endless scrolling, is part of this habit."

Start small and review weekly

"Execution is where many students stop. They plan well and then delay. The best way to begin is to start small. Even thirty minutes of focused work creates momentum, and finishing a small task gives confidence for the bigger one.

A short weekly review, even ten minutes every Sunday, helps a student see progress and correct course early," says Dr. Patil.

Treat mistakes as lessons

Dr. Patil says, "Mistakes will happen. A missed deadline is a lesson, not a failure. Teachers and parents can guide, but the habit must finally come from the student.

Over time, these small efforts build discipline, and discipline stays with a person long after college days are over."