Page 40 - EW October 2024

Cover Story EW CO-ED BOARDING SCHOOLS RANKINGS 2024-25

INDIA’S TOP-RANKED have graduated large batches of

students who have moved up corpo-
rate and other ladders. On the other
CO-ED BOARDING SCHOOLS hand, graduates of newly-promoted
schools haven’t had sufficient time to
make their mark.
Against this backdrop of co-ed
boarding schools becoming increas-
Offering pure, unpolluted air and excellent academic, co- ingly popular with the upper middle
curricular, sports and games facilities, while considerably and elite households, it’s unsur-
reducing the stress and strain of latter-day parenting, co- prising that Capt. A.J. Singh,
the cheerful Promoter-Director of
ed boarding schools are experiencing a surge of popularity Pinegrove School, Dharampur
within upper middle and elite classes (PGD, estb.1991), is “highly elated”
that this 30-year-old class VI-XII
CBSE-affiliated school sited on two
or a nation taking its own all these reasons co-ed residential scenic campuses spread over 50
time to march into mo- schools are experiencing a resur- acres in the Himalayan foothills, is
dernity, co-ed schools in gence of popularity within the upper ranked India #1 for the second year
Fwhich male and girl children middle and elite classes of Indian in succession with highest scores
learn together and begin to practice society. under six of 14 parameters of school
gender egalitarianism and mutual In the annual EducationWorld education excellence prescribed by
respect in early age, are the way to India School Rankings, since 2022, EducationWorld.
go. These nation-building practices boarding — indeed all schools — “All of us in PGD are elated that
are best learned in co-ed boarding have been divided into two catego- our school is re-ranked #1 country-
schools hosting children far removed ries: newly established latter-day and wide in this competitive category by
from their home environments and ‘vintage legacy’ (over 90 years of age) a new set of sample respondents. I
providing neutral spaces to learn the to provide a level playing field and believe our USP (unique sales propo-
virtues of independence and devel- eliminate apples and oranges type sition) is the sincerity with which all
oping life skills of coexisting in peace evaluation. The parameters under our stakeholders — teachers, parents
and harmony with children from which they are rated are common, and staff — work towards improv-
diverse cultures and backgrounds. except for ‘quality of alumni’ appli- ing the happiness quotient of our
In the new globalised world cable only to vintage schools which children,” says Singh, an alum of the
shrunk by trade, jet travel and the Pinegrove, Dharampur’s AJ Singh: happiness quotient USP
internet, lessons and life experiences
that boarding schools — especially
co-ed — provide children are invalu-
able. Particularly since the worst
excesses of boarding schools such as
cold showers, the lash, ‘gatings’ and
prolonged isolation from family—
commonplace in yesteryear boarding
schools — are history.
On the contrary, usually sited in
pristine hills far from the country’s
increasingly unlivable cities choked
with road traffic and air pollution,
they offer pure air and excellent
academic, co-curricular, sports and
games facilities, providing ideal envi-
ronments for the healthy growth and
development of children. Simultane-
ously, progressive boarding schools
considerably reduce the stress and
strains of latter day parenting. For

40 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2024