eKal Academy Career Workshop Held for 800+ Students in Imphal
Career Choices Take Centre Stage as eKal Academy Holds Workshop for 800+ Students in Imphal
More than 800 students of Grades 11 and 12 at Herbert School, Imphal, took part in a career exploration workshop organised by eKal Academy, with discussions centred on higher education, career choices and the skills students need before deciding what to study after school.
The session brought career planning into focus at a stage when many students are preparing to choose university courses, entrance examinations and areas of specialisation. According to eKal Academy, the workshop was designed to help students examine their interests, strengths and abilities before making decisions about their next academic step.
Herbert School, located at Changangei on Airport Road in Imphal West, is a higher secondary institution that offers Science education at Classes XI and XII. The school was established in 1999 by the Herbert Educational Foundation, Manipur, and moved to its present campus at Changangei for the 2003-04 academic session. The school is recognised by the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur.
Career counselling is already part of Herbert School’s academic programme. The school says it introduced career counselling to help students make choices about courses and careers after Class XII. Its academic calendar has also included career counselling sessions for Class XII students.
The latest workshop by eKal Academy added another session for students who are close to making those decisions. The programme covered higher education routes, newer areas of work and the need for students to understand their own abilities before selecting a course.
For students in Classes XI and XII, the timing can be important. A choice of subjects and entrance examinations can affect which university courses remain open to them after school. Students preparing for medical or engineering entrance tests, for instance, may follow a different academic route from those planning to study commerce, humanities, design or other fields.
Herbert School has a strong focus on competitive examinations. Its website records preparation support for examinations such as MBBS, BE and BDS-related entrance routes. In June 2026, the school also held an orientation programme for Class XI students covering NEET (UG) and JEE (Main), with teachers discussing preparation methods and the importance of conceptual understanding and regular practice.
The school has also used talks with outside experts to expose students to career choices beyond the most common professional courses. On June 3, 2026, Class XI students attended an interaction with Dr Ronaldo Laishram, an astrophysicist and post-doctoral researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory in Japan. He spoke about astronomy, research careers and ways students could pursue higher education in Japan, including through the MEXT Scholarship and LOTUS programme.
Such programmes reflect a wider change in the way schools are approaching career information. The National Education Policy 2020 calls for greater flexibility in education and places emphasis on vocational education, practical learning and skills that help students prepare for work and higher studies. Government guidelines on career counselling also recognise that students can need help assessing their interests, strengths and other factors before choosing a career.
The Ministry of Education has taken further steps in this area in 2026. In March, the Department of School Education and Literacy launched Career Cards for Children with Special Needs to improve access to career guidance. The cards were developed with support from organisations including UNICEF India, NCERT and the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education.
Against this backdrop, the eKal Academy workshop at Herbert School focused on helping students look beyond the most familiar career choices. The academy says students were encouraged to examine a wider range of courses and professions instead of choosing a field simply because it is popular.
eKal Academy is based in Ahmedabad and is operated by Altus Learning Private Limited. The organisation offers career assessment, counselling and mentorship programmes for students from Grades 8 to 12. Its Career Mentorship Program, or CMP, includes psychometric assessments, counselling sessions and academic guidance. The programme also provides information on colleges, entrance examinations, scholarships and study options in India and abroad.
The academy says its CMP is intended to help students identify career directions that fit their interests and abilities. Its programmes range from individual career assessment to longer mentorship plans that can continue through several school years.
The organisation says more than 55,000 students have been assisted through its education programmes. The figure is an eKal Academy claim and was not independently verified for this report.
For the students at Herbert School, the workshop provided a chance to ask questions and consider choices before they reach the point of filling out university applications. At this stage, career advice can help students understand what a course involves, which entrance tests may be required and what study routes are available after Class XII.
The wider issue is one many senior secondary students face: having a large number of courses and professions to choose from can make the decision harder. Career counselling can give students information to compare those choices, while assessments and discussions can help them examine whether a particular field suits their abilities and interests.
The workshop at Herbert School therefore sits within a broader effort by schools, education organisations and government bodies to give students more information before they make decisions that can shape their studies after Class XII.
