Page 281 - EW September 2024
P. 281

Birla High’s Saigal: balanced education validation  SGVPIS’ Padma Kumar (centre): great leap forward

         league table from #4 in 2022 to #3 in   and emotional well-being.   tained its #8 rank, while  Loyola
         2023 and to #2 this year. I credit our   “We are proud to be ranked among   School, Pune has advanced to #9
         continuous promotion to our dedi-  India’s Top 5 boys day schools. This   (#12)  co-ranked  with  St. Bede’s
         cated faculty and staff who work very   great forward leap from last year’s   Academy Sr. Sec School, Chen-
         hard to ensure all-round development   #16 position is an outcome of the   nai, which has moved up substantially
         of our students. Our high scores for   dedication and hard work of our en-  (#26). The Top 10 table is completed
         faculty competence, academic repu-  tire school community — diligent stu-  by Don Bosco High & Technical
         tation, and co-curricular education   dents, supportive parents and com-  School, Liluah, Howrah, which
         validate our strategy of providing bal-  mitted teachers and staff. I attribute   has leapfrogged from #20 in 2023-24
         anced education with students men-  SGVPIS’ rise in the 2024-25 rankings   to #10 this year ranked jointly with
         tored to excel academically as well   to our sharp focus on academic ex-  Don Bosco School, Park Circus,
         as given every opportunity to par-  cellence balanced with excellent co-  Kolkata, which has ceded ground (6).
         ticipate in a range of sports and co-  curricular education. Moreover our   Similarly, several schools further
         curricular activities. We are a happy   substantial investment in the profes-  down the league table have also im-
         school, quick to adopt best practices   sional development of our teachers   proved their rankings. Bishop Scott
         and new technologies such as design   and quick adaptation to the National   Boys  School, Patna has risen to
         thinking and AI while staying true   Education Policy 2020 has strength-  #14 (26), Bikaner Boys School to
         to established traditions and values.   ened our academic framework. I am   #15 (17), and Salwan Boys Sr. Sec
         We have already started to work to-  also pleased with SGVPIS’ high scores   School, Rajinder Nagar, Delhi to
         wards being ranked India’s #1 boys’   for individual attention to students   #20 (24).
         day school next year,” says Loveleen   and their mental and emotional health   It is important to bear in mind that
         Saigal, principal of Birla High School   — which are our prime objectives. We   for parents selecting most suitable day
         for Boys (estb.1941) which has 2,222   offer regular counseling sessions and   schools for their children, city ranks
         students mentored by 186 teachers on   mental healthcare programmes to   are more important than national and
         its musters.                     our students,” says Padma Kumar,   state rankings. Many boys day schools
           The satisfaction of zooming up the   principal of SGVPIS which has 1,890   ranked beyond the Top 10 in the 2024-
         league table is greater in SGVP In-  students  mentored by 106  teachers   25 national table have established ex-
         ternational School, Ahmedabad    and 20 sports coaches on its muster   cellent reputations in their host cities
         (SGVPIS) which has risen spectacu-  rolls.                        and states. For instance, Campion
         larly in esteem of the informed pub-  Beyond the top table there’s con-  School, Bhopal, ranked #17 na-
         lic to #5 in 2024-25 from #16 last   siderable churn in the 30-strong   tionally is the #1 boys day school in
         year. Promoted in 1999 by the Shree   2024-25 all-boys day schools league   Madhya Pradesh; Don Bosco High,
         Swaminarayan Gurukul Sarvajivhita-  table.  MC Kejriwal Vidyapeeth,   Panjim #16 all-India is Goa #1; and
         vah Trust, this CISCE-affiliated school   Howrah, has inched up to #6 (#7)   St. Patrick’s High School, Benga-
         has been awarded high scores under   while  Sacred Heart Boys High,   luru, ranked nationally #19 is #1 in
         the parameters of co-curricular educa-  Santacruz (W), Mumbai has been   Karnataka.
         tion, infrastructure provision, individ-  awarded a big promotion to #7 (#13).   (For vintage boys day schools
         ual attention to students and mental   NASR  Boys,  Hyderabad  has re-  league table see p.284)

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