Creative Teaching as a Pathway to Inclusive and Quality Education

Why Creativity in the Classroom Matters

Across the world, millions of children sit in classrooms every day without truly being included in the learning process. Barriers such as poverty, disability, rigid teaching methods, and unequal access to resources continue to limit their potential. My Master’s research at the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, set out to explore one central question:

How does creative teaching help make education more inclusive, engaging, and effective for all learners?

Drawing on evidence from primary schools in Ghana and India, this research examined how creative teaching methods such as music, storytelling, drama, games, visual arts, and project-based learning can improve learning outcomes and promote inclusion, particularly for children in underserved contexts.

Livingstone Delali Agbo engaged primary school students at the Ankase Matamalam Basic School, Ghana, to understand how they feel about their teachers and learning in the school.

What I Studied and Why

Inclusive and quality education is central to Sustainable Development Goal 4, yet many children still struggle to engage with traditional and lecture-based teaching. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these challenges became even more visible, as millions of children, especially in rural and low-income communities, were unable to access online learning due to the digital divide.

This research focused on primary education, a critical stage where foundational skills, confidence, and attitudes toward learning are formed. The study examined:

1. How children experience creative teaching in the classroom.

2. How educators understand and apply creative teaching methods.

3. Which teaching approaches best support inclusion and long-term learning?

How the Research Was Conducted

I employed a qualitative research methodology, engaging 36 children and 26 educators working in primary education in Ghana and India. Using semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, focus group discussions, and policy reviews, I explored learning experiences, teaching practices, and institutional contexts. Purposeful and snowball sampling methods were used to reach participants with direct experience in the education systems of Ghana and India. Ethical standards, consent, and confidentiality were strictly maintained throughout the process.

What the Children Taught Me

One of the most powerful findings came directly from the voices of children.

  • 97.2% of the children said they enjoy learning through creative arts such as music, storytelling, drawing, dance, and drama.

  • 75% preferred creative teaching methods over traditional lecture-style teaching.

  • Nearly all children expressed a strong preference for in-person learning over online classes, citing challenges of connection, participation, and engagement.

Children repeatedly described creative lessons as easier to understand, more enjoyable, less stressful, and more connected to real life. Many explained that music, stories, and drama helped them remember lessons long after class had ended. Importantly, creative activities also helped children express talents, build confidence, and feel included, especially those who struggled academically.

Students at the Mori Gate No 1 School Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, India, shared their learning experiences with Livingstone during his visit to the school.

What Educators Revealed

Educators across both countries consistently highlighted creative teaching as a powerful tool for inclusion and retention.

  • 100% of the educators interviewed identified creative teaching as more effective than traditional lecture methods.

  • The most commonly cited frameworks included Project-Based Learning (PBL), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and play-based and culturally responsive teaching approaches.

Teachers noted that creative teaching:

  • Encourages participation from all learners.

  • Helps identify students’ strengths beyond exams.

  • Builds collaboration and peer support.

  • Makes classrooms safer and more inclusive.

At the same time, educators acknowledged challenges such as limited training, lack of resources, and institutional resistance to non-traditional methods of teaching and learning.

Inclusion Is More Than Access

A key insight from the study is that inclusive education is not just about access to schools. It is about how learning happens inside the classroom. Children shared experiences of discrimination, exclusion, and being labelled “weak” when they did not perform well academically. Creative teaching helped counter these experiences by:

  • Valuing multiple forms of intelligence.

  • Allowing different ways of expressing understanding.

  • Shifting focus from “right answers” to learning processes.

When children feel seen, supported, and safe, learning becomes meaningful.

Why Creative Teaching Works

Creative teaching aligns strongly with well-established learning theories, including:

1. Piaget’s cognitive development theory, which emphasizes active learning.

2. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which highlights learning through interaction.

3. Social learning theory, which underscores modeling and observation.

Together, these frameworks reinforce one conclusion: Children learn best when they are actively engaged, socially supported, and emotionally safe. Creative teaching makes this possible.

What Needs to Change

Based on the findings, the research recommends:

1. Stronger implementation of inclusive education policies.

2. Training teachers in creative and inclusive pedagogies.

3. Providing resources and reasonable accommodations for learners with disabilities.

4. Embedding creative teaching frameworks into teacher education programs.

Education systems must move beyond rigid, exam-driven models and invest in approaches that nurture children's holistic development. This research reaffirmed a belief that has shaped my journey as an educator, social worker, and creative practitioner: teaching is both an art and a science. When creativity enters the classroom, learning becomes inclusive, joyful, and transformative. Creative teaching does not lower standards; it raises them by giving every child a fair chance to succeed.

Students actively playing a game while learning mathematics via a digital learning platform.

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