Page 12 - EducationWorld Oct 2021

Education News

UTTARAKHAND recalled at a short notice since they
Legacy schools overdue initiative come from all parts of the country

and often from abroad,” explains
Sumer Singh.
The newly registered association
intends to play a large and evolving
role in K-12 policy formulation and
education development in the post-
pandemic era. BSAI will collaborate
with similar associations in the
UK, Australia and New Zealand to
research and develop international
standards for teacher certification
in areas such as pastoral care, safety
and security, and conduct audits for
member schools to ensure compli-
ance with government mandated
rules and regulations and establish
safe and eco-friendly campuses.
“All member schools will benefit
through exchange of best practices,
conferences, workshops, debates on
BSAI founding members: policy formulation goal government policies and certification
of vendors of hardware, software
n an important even if belated School, Gwalior; Welham Girls and and services. BSAI will also provide
development, several blue-chip Welham Boys, Dehradun; The mentorship to newly-promoted
Iboarding schools — some of over Lawrence School Lovedale; The greenfield schools and consultancy
150 years vintage and respected Lawrence School, Sanawar; Pine- services especially for professional
around the world — have jointly grove School, Dharampur; The development of teachers,” adds
promoted the Boarding Schools As- Assam Valley School and SelaQui Singh.
sociation of India (BSAI), registered International School, Dehradun — Although left-liberals who domi-
on September 29. all ranked among the Top 10 co-ed, nate the academy and formulate
The prime objectives of BSAI boys and girls boarding schools in education policies tend to dismiss
declared in the association’s con- the EducationWorld India School India’s legacy and new genre inter-
stitution are “to serve the staff Rankings 2020-21. Sumer Singh, national boarding schools as relics
and students of member board- one of India’s most respected edu- of the British Raj and/or elitist,
ing schools through professional cationists and former headmaster of residential schools (and private resi-
training, providing a forum for all The Lawrence School, Sanawar and dential universities such as Ashoka,
member schools to increase interac- Daly College, Indore, is the founder- Jindal Global) are experiencing a
tion and cooperation amongst each president of BSAI. resurgence of popularity within post-
other along all facets of the board- “Unlike boarding schools in the liberalisation India’s fast expanding
ing experience, leading the discus- UK, Australia and New Zealand, in middle class.
sion on well-being and all-round India boarding schools lack a voice “Even before the Covid pandemic
development of boarding students, when the Central and state govern- there was rising awareness that
and advancing and supporting best ments formulate education policies boarding schools with their pollu-
practices in pedagogy… Furthermore and regulations. BSAI has been pro- tion free environments offer more
to advance the interests of member moted to ensure that we contribute conducive conditions for the holistic
schools, staff and students, and act to policy formulation. For instance, development of children. This aware-
as a liaison between different stake- during the recent Covid-19 pandemic ness has been heightened during the
holders such as member schools, the lockdown the Central and state gov- pandemic because of the controlled
larger educational industry, teachers, ernments issued on and off campus environments we provide. Moreover
students, parents and government”. lockdown directives without taking better travel and digital connectivity
The founding members of BSAI into account that boarding schools have diluted the monastery image
include The Doon School, Dehra- fees cover much more than tuition of boarding schools. I expect a surge
dun; Mayo College, Ajmer; Scindia and students cannot be sent home or in admission applications in the

12 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2021