Samriddhi School has been soaring its academic activities based on a progressive way of learning. In your view, what is progressive education in general understanding?
Progressive learning is activity-based and collaboration-based learning where the students acquire education through the learning by doing method. In this system of learning, the environment is created to impart education based on the psychology of the learners that they naturally want to learn and will do so by their own initiative. It focuses on developing problem-solving and social skills as well as moral value to lead a successful life in the changing paradigm of learning.
Present demand of the society is to offer education to students equipped with skills, culture and technology. It is not sufficient only through small practical orientation in classroom activities. What attempts have you made to make learning unpretentiously practical?
In fact, progressive education is the thematic, activity-based, learning-based, experience-based and child-centric education but it cannot be achieved overnight. It’s a gradual learning process. In other words, this model of education ensures levelwise competencies from pre-level to class ten in a progressive way.
Progressive education is said to be comparatively expensive over general education imparted by private schools. In your opinion, what should be done to make it affordable by and accessible to the general public?
I have no idea about other schools, but the fee structure of our school is moderate. Progressive education, in fact, is practical and activity-based education which ensures students are not confined only within the classroom. Students have to go for site visit and field study regularly. Similarly, the school has to manage trained teachers as well as prepare sufficient physical infrastructures and equipment. So, obviously, it may be relatively costly in the initial stage, but it can be made affordable gradually.
School education has come under the local government in the present context, and the local government has completed one tenure of five years. In your experience, how have you found the role of local government in the milieu of monitoring and evaluation? What other improvements do you expect from the local government to enhance the quality of education?
There is regular evaluation and monitoring in my school. The resource center and school inspectors are regularly visiting our school, and support and cooperation from the ward office is praiseworthy. In comparison to previous experience, I have found the role of the local government more advantageous. The local government has been cooperating well for BLE and SEE examinations. In my view, the local government should develop award and retribution policy on the basis of the schools’ performance and acknowledge the contributions of private school positively. It must treat both government and private schools equally.
In a progressive school, day care is managed by the school itself and busy parents prefer such school. What should be the role of parents for the quality enhancement of their child(ren)? Obviously, there is a triangular relationship among the parents, the school and the students for quality enhancement. The efforts of the school are not sufficient enough without the cooperation of parents and students. So, parents should provide sufficient time and care for their children, and they should have regular interaction with school. Our school has ensured regular interaction with the parents either physically or virtually.
There is backlash that most progressive schools send home learning assignments which is beyond the capacity of students. Do you think that only giving complicated questions raise the standard of students and school? What should be done to minimize it?
If any school has given questions to students as home assignments without introducing the content at school, is completely wrong. The concerned subject teachers should facilitate the students with problem solving and guide them in their presence.
What are the unique features of your school that are rare in other schools?
We have linked education with life and society and have imparted thematic education incorporating knowledge, skill, culture and technology. We have also adopted the curriculum of the UK to provide international education at local level which, we believe, make our students global thinkers. Besides, we equally focus on both curricular and extra-curricular activities as well as on activity -based teaching and learning approach. Similarly, our school has been imparting high quality education at affordable fee structure.
