‘Government must help schools’

The issue of 25 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections has entailed a lot of discussion in the city’s private unaided schools. What is your take?
The government should support the schools. If this is a partnership between the government and the schools,they will have to support the schools.

Do out-of-school children need to be put into age-appropriate classes? The RTE speaks about special training for these children. How is your school going to handle the issue?
The role of education is to transform the child. Even if the child has never been to school before,he or she needs to be brought up to a level where the child can compete with others. We will have to think of solutions to address this problem.

There is a need to identify neighbourhood schools so that children are brought in the mainstream. How will that be done?
According to the RTE,there has to have a committee that monitors the implementation of the RTE in different areas. In each area,there has to be a committee that identifies the children to be brought into the school in the neighbourhood. This is how it will work.

Has there been any change in the teaching methods since the CCE was implemented in Class IX last year?
There is no change in the teaching methods in our school. We used to have this grading system till class VIII. We have now extended it to classes IX and X. It speaks about the application of the knowledge. We have to make children tolerant,understanding. So the focus has now shifted from rote learning to understanding.

What are the initiatives the school has taken for under-privileged children?
We encourage our children to take up various causes. Our school has a strong sense of social commitment. The school maintains close association with the Spastic School of Northern India and the National Association for the Blind. Normal,spastic,visually and physically challenged children study together under an integrated education policy. The school also has a regular literacy programme for the women and children of our adopted basti,Indira Nagar,which includes medical check-ups and daily meals.

Tell us something about the history of the school.
St Mary’s Education Society was established on January 24,1966 and registered under the Societies Act. The St Mary’s School at B-2 Block,Safdarjung Enclave is around 43 years old today. The School is co-educational,has about 1,500 students and is open to all,irrespective of caste,community or religion. It is recognised by the Delhi administration and affiliated to the CBSE. The school’s growth has been rapid and its performance remarkable. Today,it stands in the frontline of the sphere of education in Delhi.

What does the school stand for?
Life at St Mary’s is a judicious blend of academic work and extracurricular activities,ranging from a school band to computers,basketball to drama. Students are expected to participate fully in the school life so that they gain from working together. Our aim is to educate students in the fullest sense so that on leaving school they are confident,have the ability to express themselves clearly,have a well-developed critical awareness,a sense of social responsibility and a belief in their own worth.

The school addresses special needs through technology. Tell us something about that.
The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1998 describes assistive technology as “any item,piece of equipment,or product system,whether acquired off the shelf,modified,or customised,that is used to increase,maintain,or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities (Council for Exceptional Children,1998)”. The terminology used to describe assistive technology has changed — where once it referred to orthotics,it now refers to anything from a modified pencil to a high-tech customised computer system. In simple terms,assistive technology should make life easier for persons with different abilities.

An inclusive school is one where all children learn together. At St Mary’s,children with special needs study with normal children. We believe that every student can learn,is capable of learning. St Mary’s School has taken a positive step towards inclusion,as it is the right of every child born to get an education.

A rights-based approach to education is consistent with providing support to the inclusion rather than to the segregation of children on the basis of caste,gender,disability and economic status. Inclusion means all students in a school,regardless of their strength or weakness in any area,become part of the school community. They are included in the feeling of belonging among other students,teachers and the support staff.

Towards this approach,quite a large number of children,irrespective of caste,gender,economic status and disability are getting education in St Mary’s School.

The school is working with them in collaboration with teachers,professionals and parents.

Is there anything you would like to share with our readers about your school?
The focus for all children is not only academia or sitting in a class with a group of children,it’s much more — They are all part of extracurricular activities — games,music,dance,picnics and outstation trips.

The aim of the school is not only academics but also to enhance the overall socio-emotional development of the children.

Workshops are organised for teachers to enhance their teaching skills,to make them fully aware and sensitive towards their attitude and methodologies/strategies required to enhance the skills and abilities of every child in the class,as every child in the class is special,with difference abilities in different area.