Knowledge tells students what is true. Sensitivity teaches them how to live with that truth

• 2026-01-23 12:00:00

• Parakh NCERT

• By Indrani Bhaduri

A child scoots their chair to make space for a classmate. Someone pauses mid-laugh because a friend looks uncomfortable. A group disagrees and still stays kind. These moments may look small, but they’re an integral part of learning. 

PARAKH’s Taxonomy calls this domain Sensitivity. Sensitivity functions as the foundational pillar that brings the interpersonal and ethical aspects of education into the spotlight. 

What “Sensitivity” really means in the PARAKH lens

In the PARAKH framing, sensitivity isn’t just “being nice.” It includes the competencies that help learners:

•    Engage respectfully with others
•    Acknowledge conflict and work on resolving them
•    Handle disagreement constructively
•    Applying appropriate negotiation strategies
•    Stay open to diverse perspectives
•    Collaborate and demonstrate flexibility

to act with responsibility towards self, peers, and the wider world. 

In a nation full of diversities

Conflict resolution in classroom is seen when learners acknowledge differences, articulate work toward shared solutions. Recognising these behaviours helps teachers value how students manage disagreement and rebuild collaboration, not just the final outcome of a task.

Open-mindedness allows learners to hold their ideas lightly-- listening, questioning, and revising without feeling threatened. It nurtures curiosity over defensiveness, making classrooms safer spaces for dialogue, disagreement, and growth. 

Collaboration in such a world is not an option but essential. It is the ability to work together with others and take decisions collectively, while showing willingness to accept others’ viewpoint, and applying strategies that support productive teamwork.

What sensitivity looks like in real classrooms

Sensitivity shows up when students can:

•    Notice who is being left out in a group task and make room

•    Disagree without humiliating

•    Recognize bias in a story or example

•    Reflect “What impact did my words have?” and withdraws

•    Stay open-minded to new ideas and perspectives

Giving space to sensitivity in assessment framework allows teachers to observe, record, and value these behaviours over time so they don’t remain invisible or are treated as an “extra” add on.