Sinduri Reddy, in an interview with EduKida speaks about education the way a reformer might speak about democracy — with both conviction and care. As the Founder and Managing Director of The Premia Academy, she has spent the past few years building a model of schooling that challenges the idea that marks define merit. Her school’s philosophy rests on three words she repeats often: confident, compassionate, and life-ready.

Reddy’s journey into education began not from a business plan but from a mother’s instinct. “I wanted a school that I would want my own child to grow up in,” she says. Premia began with the straightforward idea of establishing a supportive environment based on fortitude, kindness, and initiative. What began as an aspiration to create well-rounded, confident kids has developed into a learning community that values enquiry just as much as accuracy.

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Reddy says enterprise was in her bloodstream long before it became her mission. “India will truly be a developed nation when entrepreneurship is celebrated and nurtured from a young age,” she says. The idea that children can learn to think independently, take initiative, and innovate early on shaped the foundation of Premia’s curriculum.

Ask her what “education for the future” means, and her answer is clear. It’s not about coding classes or flashy labs, but about teaching children how to think, not what to think. “We blend academics with life skills, creativity, and entrepreneurship,” she explains. “Our goal is to prepare students not just to be well-read, but well-prepared for life.”

At Premia, financial literacy and creativity are not add-ons — they’re woven into the daily fabric of learning. In order to comprehend profit and loss, create practical initiatives, and take part in innovation challenges, students manage small businesses. Storytelling, technology, and art all flow naturally through their subjects, fostering competency and self-assurance.

She quickly clarifies, however, that instructors are just as much a part of school reform as pupils.  “We invest deeply in our educators through training, mentorship, and exposure to the best pedagogical practices,” Reddy says. Teachers are encouraged to experiment, reflect, and collaborate — an approach that has helped create a culture of curiosity rather than compliance.

Technology, too, finds its place at Premia — but carefully. “AI and EdTech are enablers, not replacements,” she says firmly. “The human connection — empathy, values, mentorship — cannot be replaced by machines.” For her, technology is just the medium and a tool to support teachers; schools cannot rely on it as it is not a substitute, it is just a helpful tool.

The post-pandemic years have brought new challenges, particularly around mental health and learning recovery. Reddy says her school has focused on both with equal attention. “We prioritised emotional and academic healing through counselling, mindfulness, and remedial learning. Recovery had to be holistic.”

Premia’s strategy is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on experiential learning.. “We have been pioneers in hands-on, interdisciplinary learning long before NEP made it a mandate,” she notes.

On scaling Premia across India, Reddy insists that growth will never come at the cost of integrity. “Every new branch will reflect our core philosophy of integrity, innovation, and life-readiness,” she says. “Quality and purpose can’t be compromised.”

She sees entrepreneurship playing a central role in education’s next decade — not in the business sense, but as a mindset. “It’s about curiosity, resilience, problem-solving, and leadership,” she says. “Schools must prepare children to create opportunities, not just seek them.”

Reddy’s own reading has shaped much of her thinking. “Schooling should be about cultivating wisdom, not merely accumulating knowledge,” she reflects. “We must move from teaching the book to teaching the child.”

As she looks ahead, her focus remains on empowering teachers and keeping learning rooted in joy and purpose. “At Premia, we’re preparing children not just for exams, but for life,” she says.

That, perhaps, is the quiet revolution Sinduri Reddy is leading — one classroom at a time.