The campaign for universalisation of primary education has succeeded in getting schooling accepted as a non-negotiable for all children today, including those from underprivileged sections. As universal schooling becomes mandatory, it becomes imperative to spell out why the right to schooling is a non-negotiable, and enquire whether schools deliver what we expect.

The design of school enviornments extensively relies on developmental theories that categorize childhood into predictable stages. Educators are familiar with the four stages of childhood development (sensorimotor, Pre-operational,concrete operational and formal operational) established through the work of Swiss Philosoper and psychologist, Jean Piaget.