‘Every student going out is a brand ambassador’

The rule that states you cannot fail any student till Class VIII has created quite a commotion. Is it difficult for your school to cope with it? What are the measures in place?

It is not really difficult for us. The rule stresses that the child be made to learn the lessons over and over again till he absorbs it. It is difficult,but it’s a productive tool. We ensure weak students get special care and are able to cope with the learning.

What is your take on the bus norms? Has the committee been formed and what measures have been implemented after RTO’s guidelines were sent to the educational bodies?

We have fitted our buses with a first-aid box. The speed regulations are being followed. The basic problem is that the buses that ply for schools are for adults. These buses are not built specially for little children. There are no seat belts in the buses. Children are bundles of energy and they do run around.

We need to think out of the box to ensure complete safety for children,as it is difficult to have too many minders in each bus. We do have a committee in place and are following all the guidelines to the utmost possible.

What is the current scenario regarding the RTE act that has a provision of 25 per cent reservation to students from a lower rung of society? Have you received guidelines and what has been done regarding

the same?

Right to Education (RTE) is the most important right of the young citizens of our country. It is what turns our young citizens into productive members of the society when they turn into adults. It is as necessary for anyone as food and water. A person’s inborn potential will not be realized unless he has education. All the schemes,for example the mid-day meal,are necessary.

Our school is run by a charitable trust,the Shiv Mandir Sudhar Society. We have children from all strata of society studying together,rich and poor.

We have received guidelines regarding RTE and we are adhering to the directive to provide 25 per cent reservation to students from a lower rung of society. We were doing this as we are a charitable institution.

What do you feel about the topper system? Do you think the media hype surrounding students is justified?

There are all sorts of angles to this — good,bad and ugly. The good part is that the toppers,who have put in so much hard work,feel encouraged. All the media coverage gives them a sense of additional achievement which they wholly deserve.

The bad and ugly part is when the students who did not achieve that feel pressurised or depressed. The ugly side is when a student falls into extreme depression and takes unpleasant steps. The bad side is when a person tries to measure himself against the achievement of the few topper and comes out feeling worse for it. However,it is up to the parents and teachers to maintain a balance. It is good to encourage the toppers,but at the same time it is necessary to make the other students feel they have performed to the best of their ability and need not feel run down. The society has place for all kinds of achievers. That is what needs to be stressed.

How important are extra-curricular activities in holistic development of a student. What activities are conducted by the school?

Extra curricular activities play a vital role in the overall development of a student. Co-curricular activities build the character of a student. It plays a primordial role in the child’s development.

We have all the CCE,Club activities that CBSE refers. Our prime problem with extra-curricular activities is finding a professional to help the students. For instance,an activity like swimming,cycling cannot be conducted without the help of a proper professional. We do our best within our limited resources.

What is your approach to value education and inculcation? How important are values in today’s times?

Values are the basis of education. They are what make or break an individual. Proper grounding of the students is needed. This is the most important aspect of education.

Values are what sets apart a civilized,law-abiding citizen from a lawless,uncivilized one. If we want our nation to develop into a first-world country,inculcating values into our students is the very basic step.

Principal’s Message…<\b>