‘Life skills as important as academics’

When did you join Kalka Public School?
I joined in 1986 as an English and Political Science teacher and became the Principal in 2001. Asha Malhotra was my predecessor.

What do you think of the education system in India?
It’s one of the finest systems which incorporates a definite blend of modernity with values and culture which is a characteristic unique to the Indian educational system.

What are your views on the grading system that has been recently introduced?
This is not a new phenomenon. We have been following the system since the beginning except that now it is a little different. Our focus is no longer on just the academic excellence of a child but also on life skills development. We keep a regular check on the social pattern of the children which I believe is of utmost importance. This is a good way to encourage creativity in children.

Under the Comprehensive Continuous Evaluation system introduced by CBSE,do you feel there are any drawbacks in the system?
There are both positives and negatives. While on the one hand every child has the opportunity to enhance his creative skills and talent,on the other,the competitive spirit has disappeared. The good students have become complacent and this attitude in the long run may prove harmful.

In the wake of the La Martiniere issue,what are the guidelines you follow in school relating to meting out punishments to children?
Parents and teachers are the pillars supporting a child. A child needs to understand the difference between right and wrong. Punishment should therefore be a learning process for a child. Here,if a child does not complete his homework,he/she is made to do it in class. This way the child learns how to do his work in time. Sometimes,children are subject to intense physical fitness training which in turn only benefits the child. Behavioural changes in children are inevitable. All we can do is to keep a close watch on the child’s social pattern.

Under the Adolescent Educational Programme,the concepts of life skills have been introduced. However,many have termed this as “sex education” and the system has been criticized at various levels. What are your views on this?
I don’t believe it is just “sex education”. Yes,physical and emotional changes occur and need to be discussed and it helps in judging a student’s social development which will ultimately only benefit the child. The word “frustration” is extremely popular among adolescents today. It is therefore our duty as teachers to help them cope with it. Personality development begins from school.

What training does you school provide to teachers? What challenges do the teachers face?
We conduct in-service programmes regularly for teachers who can keep themselves abreast with the present system. Also,enrichment programs are conducted fortnightly. This is not purely curriculum-based. It incorporates discussion on various general issues. If you ask me about challenges,there are a few. At the beginning,the focus is on individual participation,personality development and talent but there comes a saturation point. It is difficult to maintain that enthusiasm throughout. I think one should be pragmatic. The goal of the education system should be to learn,unlearn and relearn.

What initiatives have your school taken to address children’s issues?
We organise quizzes and brainstorming sessions at various levels. The response has been exemplary. This way we can keep a check on the social,emotional and physical development of a child at all levels.

For enhancing a child’s creative development,what activities does your school offer?
We have 14 clubs which deal with various aspects of creativity. There is a quizzing and innovative club where new ideas are encouraged. There is a honey bee club where originality is the focus. Every student maintains a diary where all activities they participate in are recorded. Each student is required to be a member of atleast two clubs. The National Innovative foundation based in Ahmedabad came up with an idea in 2008 to give the youth an opportunity to create a symbol for the Indian rupee. Our students have participated in this initiative and this has helped them incredibly.

What awards have your students received recently?
The Science Quest Foundation organised a competition which one of our Class XII students,Upamanyu Das won. 11 students have cleared the National Talent Search Exam organised by NCERT and currently receive a quarterly scholarship of Rs 6000.

What subjects does your school offer after class X?
We don’t offer humanities as a separate subject because there is a tendency of other students to look down upon students from the humanities background. We have two streams- science divided into section A1 and A2 and commerce – group A comprising Business studies,Economics and Informatics Practices without Maths with a choice between Political Science and Hindi. This way the students benefit from the mixed subject combination which in turn enables them to choose from the innumerable choices available to them at their graduation level.

Do you have any tie-ups with universities?
Yes,we offer BCA and BEd courses affiliated to the IP and IGNOU.