‘Teachers should be role models for students’

We provide a student-friendly academic environment. By and large our students enjoy learning at all levels despite the fact that the school has a heterogeneous lot of students. Our teachers are well qualified and experienced and pay individual attention to the students. The school management committee is an active body that assists school authorities in planning and executing short-term and long-term strategies to improve the performance of the students. Similarly,parent-teacher meetings are regularly organised and constant efforts are made to solve study related problems of the students through discussion with the parents.

Interesting,our school is the only senior secondary school in the northern region to receive the National Award in ‘All-India Competition On Innovative Practices And Experiments In Education For Schools And Teacher Education Institutions’ (2010 and 2011). The winning team comprised Mr Darshanjit Singh (principal),Mr Arun Kumar Sharma (lecturer) and Ms Shakha (TGT).

Also,our school is the winner of cfor ‘The Best Vocational Award’,instituted by PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education,Bhopal (MP),an apex research and development organization. Our school also won the NCERT Award 2011-12 for ‘The Best Student Achiever’. The award went to Ms Ritika Negi,a student of Ophthalmic Techniques and Ms Kusum,a student of Medical Lab Technology.

How do you feel about the rule that you cannot fail a student till Class VIII? Do you see this as a lowering of educational standards or as an important rule?

Educationally speaking,the idea behind not failing the students up to Class VIII is to check the fast increasing tendency of dropouts. However,while doing so it should be the joint responsibility of the school,parents and SMC (School Management Committee) to make adequate arrangements to provide quality education.

If there still remain students with low performance,necessary efforts need to be made to arrange remedial classes for them. I feel if the quality of inputs,especially the teaching-learning process further improves and parents pay more attention towards their children,the students’ level of achievement,especially at the primary and upper primary level can be improved.

What are your views regarding the RTE Act providing 25 per cent reservation to students from the lower rung of society? What measures has your school taken to achieve that?

In my opinion,this provision of the RTE can go a long way in realising the concept of inclusive education in our country. The provision can further provide adequate opportunities and exposure to students to enjoy a better learning experience and fulfill their dream of studying in the school of their choice.

Our school follows this norm and admits students as per RTE norms.

Is the current grading system better for students?

The grading system is definitely better when compared to the traditional evaluation system. I personally feel it is by and large more beneficial for the average and below average students. However,teachers are expected to implement this system after understanding the core areas of the grading system to make it more effective and result-oriented.

Is an adequate teacher-pupil ratio maintained in your school? Do you ensure sufficient training is provided to the teachers?

Our school follows the norms pertaining to teacher-pupil ratio as fixed by the Education department. All teachers working in our school are well-trained and experienced. We encourage our teachers to attend seminars,orientation programmes and other relevant training programmes conducted by the department and CBSE and NCERT. Our school also conducts such programmes for the teachers to update their knowledge and hone their skills in order to make their teaching more effective.

How much importance do you give to sports and other extra-curricular activities in the school?

In my opinion,the students should take keen interest in sports and co-curricular activities. We always encourage our school students to participate in both indoor and outdoor games at the district,state and national levels. The school provides adequate facilities to the sports students and motivates them to excel in their specific game. Participation and winning prizes year after year has become a tradition for our school.

What are your views on value education? What is the importance of value education in today’s times?

Well,in order to develop a balanced personality of the students and to prepare them as good future citizens of our country,we should not ignore value education in the contemporary scenario. It should be an integral part of what the students study. There is need to imbibe good values among the students such as honesty,truthfulness,love and respect and discipline to make the society a better place to live in. The teachers need to become role models for their students and they should also guide them to differentiate between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’.

What is your school’s vision for the next 10 years?

Broadly speaking,our school’s vision is to nurture our students as useful citizens and future leaders by inculcating in them the culture of excellence,innovation,creativity,high moral values,passion for life-long learning and a global perspective. While on the other hand our mission is to ensure access,retention and quality education for all students besides nurturing academic excellence and life-long learning,develop scientific and rational thinking among students,develop aesthetic sense among the students through co-curricular activities,cultivate a socially acceptable behaviour,positive attitude and ethical values and above all to provide best possible facilities and an environment that is conducive to academics,vocational studies and sports.