There are nearly 15 lakh schools in India. This means that in all probability, you and your child are surrounded by 100+ schools in close proximity and 1000+ if you live in a metro city in India. You not only get to choose from a large number of schools but also, the type of school – boarding, private, government, day-school, evening-school, English or Hindi medium.
On one hand you have these great considerable choices, but on the other hand, it seems nearly impossible to narrow down to only one good school from a list of thousands of schools.
As a parent, you may have a hundred questions in mind while shortlisting the best schools.
We have created a checklist to narrow down the 10 most valuable and time-saving tips that will certainly help you choose the right school for your child.
Here we go –
1. Proximity – Many schools in big cities have clearly laid out a rule that their students’ residences must be within the radius of 1-10km from school premises. This is their way of looking out for children taking convenience and safety into consideration.
For the same reasons, most parents want to keep their children as close to them as possible, especially, when they are still kids to move about by themselves.
Having your child’s school in close proximity saves a lot of travelling time, cuts down the cost of travelling, and increases your chances of availability at the time of emergency.
2. Affiliation – An affiliated school is the one that is accepted nationally and internationally. We cannot emphasize enough upon how important it is to choose a school recognized and supported by the board of education.
In India, schools are categorized under Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and State Board. Affiliated schools have a well-balanced curriculum which benefits the students in the long-run, therefore, it is vital to choose the right board of school for your children.
3. Infrastructure – While some schools are equipped with only basic infrastructure like desks, benches, boards and a playground, there are other schools with far better facilities like a larger auditorium, art room, massive library, modern technology for computer aided learning, air-conditioned classrooms, and medical emergency rooms.
Better infrastructure ensures more convenient and engrossing learning experience for children.
Above all, the most important question at this need of hour is if the school has adopted all guidelines to protect students from Covid-19 at school premises while ensuring that students are being well taught during online classes.
4. Safety and security – All schools are expected to have the basic safety aids installed and well-trained staff to operate them in the time of emergency. Fire alarms, fire extinguishers and medical rooms cannot be overlooked. CCTV cameras, watchmen, well-trained nurses play as much a significant role as having school premises secured with solid boundary walls.
Mental safety has also become a major concern with the growing number of bullying, violence, and drug cases among students these days. There has also been a visible rise in cases of suicide due to low grades/marks, peer pressure, and high competitiveness. As a parent, you must consider understanding how the school deals with these issues and protects children from indulging.
5. Cleanliness and hygiene – With the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in India, cleanliness and hygiene of schools will be more severely scrutinized than ever. Earlier, schools were expected to ensure clean classrooms, furniture’s, corridors, restrooms, playgrounds, drinking water, dust-free books in the library and having green plants for fresh air.
Now, the focus is more on deep cleaning and sanitization to avoid contraction of viruses at any cost.
6. Quality of Teachers – Since teachers are responsible for maximum educational learning and transformation of children, as parents you must probe into their qualifications and ability to handle kids of all ages. A teacher’s teaching methodology influences their students’ interest in learning.
It is also helpful to know what teachers have to say about their school to understand their involvement and keenness in the motto of the school. A teacher’s moral standards and power to encourage and mentor every child in the best suited way must be of utmost consideration.
7. Diversity – A school must be a place where all differences are respectfully accepted. Diversity teaches children to learn different viewpoints and come up with creative ideas. It helps them adjust, adapt, accept and appreciate people from all backgrounds and train them to coexist.
Parents must take full liberty in observing the nature of staff and fellow students who will actively encourage positive attitudes in students.
8. Extra-curricular activities – Parents look for institutions that can provide a platform to their children to display their latent talents. Extra-curricular activities inculcate self-esteem, leadership abilities, public speaking and problem-solving skills. Parents must invigorate their children to participate in cultural, indoor and outdoor activities, and support schools in conducting such programs.
9. Core Values – Every school abides by the motto laid by their founders. This needs to be reflected in their code of conduct, policies and practices. Parents must engage in detailed communication with the founders and Principal of the school to ensure they fully comprehend and believe in the core values that the school follows.
10. Fees – In the end, after evaluating all the above points, parents must weigh the value of the fees that they would be paying to the school that qualifies as fit. Parents need to understand that not all expensive schools are great and not all schools with comparatively lower fees are reasonable. The fee structure must justify the curriculum and infrastructure of the school.
With the right guidance and feedback from the right people, the process of selecting a school can be made painless.
Make sure to choose a school that is capable of showing the right path to your child. Do not be shy in asking questions, observing, or researching deeply about schools as it is a matter of kickstarting your child’s future.
