Conceptual understanding among students is likely to improve in the settings which emphasise on

The correct option is inquiry and dialogue.

Conceptual understanding among students improves when they actively engage with learning materials, ask critical questions, explore ideas, and participate in collaborative discussions.

Why "inquiry and dialogue" is correct:
1. Inquiry: Encourages students to investigate, reason, and discover principles for themselves rather than passively memorizing facts.
2. Dialogue: Fosters communication where students share perspectives, clarify doubts, and build deeper meaning through interaction with peers and teachers.

Why other options are incorrect:
- Competitions: Often create performance anxiety and focus on beating others rather than deep comprehension of concepts.
- Textbook-centric pedagogy: Restricts learning to rote memorization and passive reading instead of practical understanding.
- Frequent examinations: Tend to emphasize test-taking strategies and short-term recall over meaningful long-term learning.