‘The no-homework policy sets our school apart’

In our school,beginning from Nursery, the emphasis is on learning within the school premises. Our children do not need to go for additional tuitions or coaching. We follow the no-homework policy,which sets our school apart from others. All the children need to learn is imparted in the school itself.

Manmeet Sohanpal,Hardeep Singh,Gurinder,Preeti Bansal all topped our school with 94% marks and got admissions in prestigious colleges like PEC. Also,our students have been winning sports events regularly. We are the cricket champions in our zone and have been at the top in the under 14,16 and 19 tournaments.

It is the achievements of our students that speak about what sets our school apart and makes it unique.

The rule about not failing any student till Class VIII has created quite a commotion. Is it difficult for your school to cope with it? What measures are in place?

Even before we received these guidelines,we have been maintaining a record of good results. We ensure good coaching within the school and make sure no child is unable to be promoted.

We have been doing this honestly,as we ensure that the knowledge level of the child is sufficient for him to be promoted to the next class.

We have a 100% pass result for children in Class X as well. This speaks volumes about our ability to coach the children to perfection.

The school often gets students from other schools in Classes VIII and IX. We never refuse admission to them because we are confident of our teaching.

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

We are following all the guidelines very strictly. We have maids accompanying the bus to ensure the small children get home safely. All the rules regarding speed,safe driving are being followed.

Also,we have a committee in place to look into the bus guidelines issued by RTO. We have a first-aid box in the buses,the windows are barred,the name of the school and the legend “SCHOOL BUS” is imprinted on all buses. The rest of the guidelines are being followed as well.

What is the scenario regarding the Right to Education (RTE) Act that requires providing 25% reservation to students from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).

Have you received the guidelines and what has been done regarding the same?

Even before we received RTE guidelines,we have waived off fees for students who lost their fathers. We have been waiving off fees for children who top the school and are from the weaker section of the society. These are the children who need and deserve help.

We do not consider a child who comes from a better financial background,like those with a colour television at home,eligible for fee waiver simply because they live in a slum.

We admit children the DO recommends to us for fee waiver or free education. Our fees are not very forbidding in the first place. We take care not to overcharge the child for the good educational facilities that they get here.

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

The felicitation of the toppers is very important. The student has obviously put in extreme hard work and needs to be encouraged in every possible way. The media spotlight on them serves to encourage the other children to do something similar.

However,under-performing children,who get depressed,need understanding parents. Most of the times,it is the parents who push the child to over-perform. This gives the children a complex when they fail to deliver. After all,in a race,only one child tops.

In our school,we have the concept of toplines instead of toppers. All children who score above 90% are the first toplines. Children with marks between 80-90% are the second topline. This enables us to felicitate a larger range of children,instead of just one or two.

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

Extra-curricular activities certainly hold a very important place in the development of a student. Knowledge works best if it is housed in a sound body. We have activities like debating,story-telling,dance and song in the cultural section. We have four dance teachers and three vocal music teachers to coach the children.

Also,we have sports activities like basketball,cricket and other games. We are proud to say that students from our school regularly get the better of students from other Chandigarh schools. We have champion players as coaches for cricket and basketball.

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

An education without a proper value system will ring hollow. A child must learn to be humble and honest apart from good education. They have to continue to respect their parents,even if the parents are not from an educated background.

Education is the most important gift parents give to their children. However,without values,this gift can turn into a curse. Values and education go hand in hand.

We make sure the children are imparted a good moral education at every stage in the school,right from when they are impressionable youngsters,to when they are grown-up children,who are ready to face college life.