Why theatre should be at the heart of holistic education in the AI age
The Hindu Education & Career published an opinion piece urging that theatre become a core component of schooling as artificial intelligence reshapes job markets. The article cites research and educators to argue that drama cultivates empathy, judgement and collaborative skills that machines cannot replicate.
- ✓The Hindu Education & Career published an opinion piece urging that theatre become a core component of schooling as artificial intelligence reshapes job markets.
- ✓The article cites research and educators to argue that drama cultivates empathy, judgement and collaborative skills that machines cannot replicate.
- ✓Civic Domain: Categorized under education public notices.
The Hindu Education & Career argued that theatre deserves a central place in modern curricula, contending that the rise of AI makes uniquely human abilities such as empathy, judgement and improvisation more valuable than ever. The piece references the work of British drama educator Dorothy Heathcote, known for her “Mantle of the Expert” approach, and Brazilian practitioner Augusto Boal, whose Theatre of the Oppressed turns spectators into active participants, to illustrate how drama can serve as a laboratory for life skills.
Psychologists Thalia Goldstein and Ellen Winner are cited for research indicating that sustained acting training can enhance empathy, particularly among adolescents, while broader studies of drama pedagogy report gains in collaborative behaviour. The article notes that theatre forces students to manage real‑time communication consequences—tone, silence, gesture and eye contact—thereby turning abstract communication concepts into lived experience.
The broader context is an education system grappling with AI’s ability to write, design and solve problems, prompting a shift toward skills that machines struggle to emulate. By integrating theatre with design, fashion, interior and technology disciplines, schools can create multidisciplinary labs where students explore narrative, space and human‑centred problem‑solving, preparing them for uncertain future workplaces.
- •Aspirants and citizens are advised to monitor official notices and circulars issued by The Hindu Education & Career.
- •Verify all prescribed eligibility criteria, cutoff dates, and authenticated document requirements prior to formal submissions.
- •Track connected examination timetables, vacancy advisories, and administrative gazettes on SuchnaSetu.
| Issuing Authority | The Hindu Education & Career |
|---|---|
| Topic Category | EDUCATION |
| Jurisdiction | All India / National |
| Publication Date | 12 September 2026 |