Page 104 - Education World November 2022

Pictorial Essay

Lifetime Achievement in Education Leadership Award 2022-23

Dr. Gita Karan

Dr. Gita Karan receives award & citation from Dilip Thakore (right) & Dr. Kannan
Gireesh, founder, Live Life Education

n alumna of Osmania and Agra universities, Dr. development of K-12 education in formerly united Andhra
Gita Karan is the Hyderabad-based founder- Pradesh and India, Dr. Karan has received numerous
Aprincipal and director of the Gitanjali Group of awards and encomiums. Currently she is the president of
five K-12 schools in the city of pearls. These schools have the AP/Telangana Association of CISCE schools. In 2004,
an aggregate 7,000 children and 500 teachers on their she was awarded the National Award for Teachers by the
muster rolls. Union HRD (now education) ministry. Dr. Karan is also the
After a short stint as a teacher, she discerned a pau- recipient of the National Integration Award of the Telan-
city of schools offering holistic education in Hyderabad gana state government.
and founded the CISCE-affiliated Gitanjali School in The trials and tribulations of children with special needs
1985. “Teaching was my true calling, I could not have occupy a special place in Dr. Karan's heart and mind. This
achieved more in any other profession,” says Dr. Karan. prompted her to qualify in special needs education and es-
The pioneer K-12 co-ed Gitanjali School established on tablish elaborate, contemporary learning and development
a 1.5-acre campus in downtown Hyderabad was enthu- facilities for children with special needs with the objective
siastically welcomed by upwardly mobile citizens of the of integrating them into mainstream schooling and higher
city. Subsequently with the school having attained full education.
capacity and under pressure for admissions, Dr. Karan Moreover she produced a 45-minutes feature film titled
started a senior school in 1990 affiliated with the CISCE R ihla, based on the life of a mentally challenged child from
and Cambridge International, UK boards. Subsequently the school, which was showcased at several film festivals
she promoted Gitanjali Devshala affiliated with the CISCE in India and abroad.
board (estb.1997); Gitanjali Devashray School (CBSE, “The purpose of education is to teach children to make
2003), Gitanjali Devakul (CBSE, 2014) and Gitanjali Ve- a life and not a living. The skills and values which chil-
dika (CAIE, UK, 2020). dren pick up while still young helps them develop decision
Since then under Dr. Karan's leadership Gitanjali making skills. Sensitivity must be re-awakened to graduate
schools have evolved into contemporary citadels of ho- integrated creative adults free from conflict and friendly
listic K-12 education and have graduated hundreds of towards mankind and nature,” says Dr. Karan.
children, many of whom have risen to high positions in In appreciation and acknowledgement of her sustained
government, industry, business and social sector organ- effort to raise teaching-learning standards and for con-
isations. The pioneer Gitanjali School is routinely ranked temporisation of K-12 education in Telangana and India,
among the Top 5 co-ed day schools of Telangana in the the Editors and Board of Directors of EducationWorld are
annual EducationWorld India School Rankings with all pleased to present Dr. Gita Karan the EW Lifetime Achieve-
Gitanjali Group schools ranked among the Top 10. ment in Education Leadership Award and induct her into
For her pioneer and exemplary contribution to the the EW Hall of Fame of Indian education.

104 EDUCATIONWORLD NOVEMBER 2022