We are at the dawn of 2021, ready to welcome the next year with open hands. The year was indeed filled with ups and downs, the second Covid wave, lockdown, everything was a lot to go through. Amidst the chaos, the education sector had to face a huge challenge given the circumstances, management, and resources. Here are a few milestones and changes the K12 Education sphere witnessed in 2021:

Implementation of New Education Policy

New Education Policy was finally approved in 2020 that replaced the 34-year-old education system with some needful reforms. The major change in the education policy is the replacement of the 10+2 curriculum with a 5+3+3+4 approach. This states that students should have 12 years of school education preceded by 3 years of preschool learning or Anganwadi. Besides this, there were several other statements regarding the regulation, vocational education, holistic development, etc mentioned in the policy changes to improve the present education system. 2021 saw some educational institutions implementing and adapting to the New Education Policy Changes. Karnataka was the first state to implement the policy from the academic year 2021-22. 

Online classes and the digital divide

Among the lockdowns and curfews, schools were shut down for a very long time. Online classes were the only medium to continue the learning process. But it had several challenges because of the economic gap. Most of the students in India cannot afford a mobile device and internet connection. Because of these reasons, a large population of students couldn’t attend online classes or their parents had to make huge efforts to do the same. However, many initiatives were taken to help students be able to arrange online classes, the digital divide affected the learning space. 

Changed pattern(CBSE and CISCE)

In the view of elevated covid cases, the closing of schools and online classes education boards changed their pattern to lessen the burden of study on students. Both CISCE and CBSE board divided the academic year into two semesters with board exams being held two times a year. The paper pattern for Term I was designed to have objective questions whereas Term II will be focused on subjective questions. The result of the whole year is supposed to be the combined performance of students in both Terms I and Term II examinations. 

Reopening of schools

After the covid upsurge, the schools were the first to be closed. After the second wave of recovery, circumstances started becoming better and shops, malls, and offices started coming back to their pace. Following the traction, schools were also given the green flag to start offline classes. So, students were finally able to attend school offline with all precautions. But the offline classes were not made compulsory but optional, and henceforth the classes are running in hybrid mode. 

2021 was a year where people saw hard times and yet supported each other to come out stronger and better. But this all made us realize how important human lives are and people can face any pandemic with combined efforts. The K12 Education indeed suffered in-between all the happenings, but the solutions ensured children got the right learning environment. 2022 is already here and we hope the year brings a sweet beginning for everyone. Find the Best CBSE Schools in Chandigarh at Edustoke.

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Preschool is not just about having good teachers, clean chairs and floors or secured indoors. There are few other factors which only a keen observer or a professional can usually think of. Here we are giving you some of the important points to consider in preschool which would be considered as not so important by the parents.

• Language or the communication ability of the teachers/support staff:

Why? You may ask… but isn’t it so obvious that when the kids can grasp the accent and language from parents, the same would be done with the adults at the other environment where kids generally spend a good share of their day? Make sure that you strike a quick conversation with everyone in that school. A cuss word sounds interesting to a child than an act of kindness, as the other one brightens up their curious minds than their usual routine. How to spot this? Give more than 2 visits to the preschools you are finalizing on. Keep a check on the way the teachers teach the kids. Take a look on how the support staff gets the child to be potty trained. These intricate details can help you decide with a relief. Strange thing to observe? Well nothing is more important than your child right?

• The Game and the game changers:

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” – Plato. Games are innate in children for whom learning at the initial stage only happens when there is some game or playing involved. The teachers could be the game changer in a child’s life who will engage the kids by applying the creative techniques to teach those concepts which are prescribed in the Preschool syllabus in a given curriculum. Mere teaching ABC or 123 will fetch no interest, but playing hopscotch with numbers in them or singing and enacting the ABC rhyme with pictures and charts on the wall can help then to gain a better understanding in their own distinct style. The learning is all about making the concepts and the curriculum come alive with various lively activities.

• Serious about not being serious:

It is usual Indian tendency to be happy to see their children write and read as soon as they start learning. This is due to the kind of pressure they have from the society to be the better child than the best. Competition is so prevalent that it takes away the childhood from a child. Go easy on making your child a productive one. Make your child a proactive person who actively involves in learning skills and not delivering results. Making them aware of the concepts than being pushed to learn the contents of the curriculum is the factor than can change the entire process of effective learning for your child. Look for a Preschool which makes the child learn some basic concepts like watering the plants to keep them alive, cleaning the dirty hands to be free from diseases or things like saying ‘please’ before telling ‘I want’.

These small things can pave the way for a better learning capability once they reach the regular day school setup. It is the difference between teaching them to concentrate better through team activities than asking them to pay attention to the teacher in the class.

Technology tips for Preschool parents

Any preschool will make an attempt to get the best out of each child, which is exactly what each parent expects to. But what the child actually needs is attention and care. Giving utmost attention and unconditional love which is infused with simple concepts and joyful learning, a preschool learning will then reach a successful completion.

The post Searching for a good preschool – The one thing parents miss appeared first on edustoke.

As Sri.Jawaharlal Nehru once expressed that Pune is the Oxford and the Cambridge of India, this Cultural and Educational capital of Maharashtra is the nucleus of some great places to attain educational excellence. This land of great cultural diversities and richness has been picked by many students from across the world not just for some main stream science and technological courses but also for some classy linguistic laboratories like Department Of Foreign Languages affiliated to Pune University, Goethe-Institut for German language, Alliance Française for French which are the salubrious environment for foreign language proficiency aspirants.

Boarding Schools in Pune:

There are many prestigious boarding schools in Pune which are known for their quality of education with amazing hostel facilities. This has indeed made Pune one of the most preferred locations for boarding schools. The schools here not only emphasize on the academics but also is keen on inducing quality value education like compassion, love, mutual respect and patriotism in this beautiful Maratha land. Pune is well known for its pleasing weather and great infrastructure which makes the place a leading cosmopolitan city. This too is a reason for parents to choose the boarding schools in Pune and it offers their children with a concoction of both traditional and the modern outlooks of life.

Tips for Applying in Boarding Schools

When applying to boarding schools, planning is crucial. The abundant requirements, that includes interviews, filling up forms in proper formats, recommendations, certificates and many more, leaves us with so many tasks in our TO-DO list that these usually seems never ending. But if you are very eager to get admitted at the right place and at the right time, here are few things which have to be followed. The below points may help you like a check-list for all your boarding school admission requirements.

1. The last day for applying: Make sure that you are not missing out on the vital point in any application process. The time frame under which the application and the process of submission must be completed. Failing which you may never have any opportunity of getting even close to admission.
2. Enquiry about interview: Checking the information about if at all an entrance exam or qualifier test is required to be a part of this school. Many schools in Bangalore adhere to this format of conducting a simple written test round, after which the students would be selected based on their entrance test performance.
3. Campus visiting: Any atmosphere is not easy for everyone. Getting adapted to the new environment, accepting it as a home – all with parents not being next to you is one of the biggest challenge your child may face. Try taking them to the campus which they would be getting in to. Getting familiar with the place with you might help them cope up with the separation anxiety if any.
4. Clear application: A clear, well written and a legible application form hold more value. If in case of a digital application submission, make sure there are no ambiguities or faulty responses in you applications. Rewriting or re-submission is a strict no when it comes to the school application. With respect to the contact numbers or any minor mistakes in the address, the management may later blame you for any lack of communication from the institution.
5. Scholarships and recommendations: If your child is in need of any scholarships or is eligible for one, do not forget to mention it much before than later regretting for not being able to utilize the opportunity. Scholarships are either provided for students with gifted skills of those who are in need of it due to their non affordable situations. Either which a special mention is required so that you would not lose out on a prime fund generator. Also a special mention should be made initially regarding any recommendations from any source or a person. This usually occurs with those students who either join mid-year or the ones who have recently had a move from a different place. Special cases at time need a special recommendation which is valid. Make sure that these things are mentioned well with legitimate documents to support the admission process.
6. Adhere to school’s admission format: Arguing as to ‘this was not the format in the other school’ or complaining that ‘the schools are extremely demanding when it comes to details’ are like too lame a reasoning for an unsuccessful admission process. The process involved or the details required are all for a sole purpose – A hassle-free admission process and a secured and satisfactory stay of your child post a successful admission.
7. Get to know about the school: When the school demands innumerable details about you and your child, it is hence proved that you have a fair and an equal right to know all information you ever wanted about the school you wish to get your child admitted to. The faculty, the facilities, the importance given to the co-curricular activities and even knowing about the security measures, to having a clear picture about the dining and the dormitory arrangements – a school must not deny to show proves of all the facilities they promised in their brochure or mentioned in their official website. Transparency plays an important aspect here as it is your own flesh and blood who would be getting involved with the institution.

Let us now have a look at some of the leading boarding schools with the details of their admission and also know what they have to offer: 

MIT PUNE’S Vishwashanti Gurukul

•  Annual Fees: ₹ 300000

•  Admission Fees : ₹ 50000

•  Other Fees : ₹ 30000

 Fee Structure -Boarding

Indian Students

•  Yearly Fees : ₹ 640,000

 Gurukul believes in commitment to a high quality and challenging international education. The School is authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate : Primary Years Program , Middle Years Program and Diploma Program.  MIT Vishwashanti Gurukul is an IB World School known for imparting value-based education for more than a decade. The school upholds the traditional Guru-Shishya way of teaching with the modern amenities which is the example of their vivacious technique of education.

Riverdale International Residential School 

Address: Rawade, Mulshi, Pune, Maharashtra 412108

 

 

Phone:098508 26975

Board: ICSE

Type of School: Boarding

Gender: Co-Ed

Admission Details:

Starts from December

Fee Structure :

Indian Nationals

•  Admission Application Fee: ₹ 30,000

•  Other One Time Payment : ₹ 75,000

•  Yearly Fees : ₹ 350,000

 Fee Structure – International Students

•  Admission Application Fee: US$ 100

•  Other One Time Payment: US$ 1,400

•  Yearly Fees : US$ 9,000

Creating an environment to foster personal growth and the development of individual capacity to transform society through service. – This forms the motto of this school which they have been following since its inception. The school holds a great place in every boarding school wishing parents due to its amazing facilities and great faculty. The dormitories, dining, classrooms or corridors, this school just and just gives the best to the students.

Sahyadri School

Address: Rajgurunagar, Dist. Pune, Tiwai Hill, Maharashtra 410513

 

Phone:02135 288 440

 

Board: ICSE

Type of School: Boarding

Gender: Co-Ed

Admission Details:

Starts from October

Fee Structure:

 

Indian Nationals

•  Admission Application Fee: ₹ 2,500

•  Other One Time Payment : ₹ 40,000

•  Yearly Fees : ₹ 500,000

International Students

•  Admission Application Fee: US$ 125

•  Other One Time Payment: US$ 425

•  Yearly Fees : US$ 11,500

This institution comes under the umbrella of the prestigious Krishnamurthy foundation which follows the ideals and the vision of the great educationist, the visionary himself Sri. Jiddu Krishnamurthy. Sri. Krishnamurthy had a long lasting wish to establish an educational institution in the western India which came into existence during the birth centenary of the legend himself. The vision for a school in Western India was born in response to this long felt need. The late Shri Achyut Patwardhan’s tireless efforts and generous assistance from several well-wishers saw this vision turn into reality by November, 1994. The main Study Center building has a unique architectural design. Shaped like a twelve-petal lotus, the building exudes serenity and a special atmosphere. 

Indus International School

Phone:020 3917 2000

B K Birla Centre For Education

Address: Shirgaon – Gahunje, Near Talegaon Dabhade, Taluka Maval, Pune, Maharashtra 410506

Phone: 8380968333 , 8380938444

Board: CBSE

Type of School: Boarding

Gender: Boys

Admission Details:

Starts from March

Fee Structure:

Indian Nationals

•  Admission Application Fee: ₹ 5,200

•  Security Deposit : ₹ 30,000

•  Other One Time Payment : ₹ 100,000

•  Yearly Fees : ₹ 350,000

Established in 1998 by Mr BK Birla and Mrs Sarala Birla, this institution was founded to nurture the conception of an oasis of learning by designing young minds who seek excellence in every quest, innovation and approach towards life. With highly qualified faculty and extremely favorable facilities, BK Birla would undoubtedly be one of the best decisions taken by the parents for their children.

The Cathedral Vidya School

Address: Opposite Mumbai Pune Highway, Shilatne Village, National Highway 4, Pune, Maharashtra 410405

Phone:  91 2114 – 308900 , 282693 , 282113

 

Board: IGCSE, IB

Type of School: Day Cum Boarding

Gender: Co-Ed

Admission Details:

Starts from October

Fee Structure:

Day School

•  Annual Fees: ₹ 266000

•  Transport Fees : ₹ 30000

•  Admission Fees : ₹ 100000

•  Application Fees : ₹ 5000

•  Security Fees : ₹ 25000

•  Other Fees : ₹ 30000

Boarding

Indian Students

•  Security Deposit : ₹ 50,000

•  One Time Payment: ₹ 100,000

•  Yearly Fees : ₹ 600,000

`

International Students

•  Security Deposit : US$500

•  One Time Payment: US$ 1,000

•  Yearly Fees : US$ 10,000

The modern teaching pedagogical practice coupled with traditional value systems – this is the way Cathedral Vidya rings it. With some extraordinary scholars and statesman as its alumni for its credit – this antique, precious institution promises best of the best to all the students. Be it education or sports or other special interests of each child, it is nurtured and taken forward to make them flourish in the field which they desire.

Kohinoor American School 

Address:Khandala, Mumbai – Pune Expy, Khandala, Maharashtra 410301

 

 

Phone: 088796 46444

 

Board: IB

Type of School:Boarding

Gender: Co-Ed

Admission Details:

Starts from November

Fee Structure:

Indian Nationals

•  Other One Time Payment : ₹ 75,000

•  Yearly Fees : ₹ 600,000

 Letting the children discover their innate talents, this school of serene Khandala, imparts knowledge and wisdom to young minds in the American Style of Education. The American style of education allows students to develop complex critical thinking skills, a spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, abundant confidence with a winning attitude and aptitude in writing, reading, and self-actualization.Holistic education, practical outlook and skillful learning are the key aspects followed as the templates of teaching.

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How many kids today are avid readers? How many students go sit in library for hours and spend time on binge reading a book? How many of us, yes we parents take our children to book clubs or book sharing forum which was pretty popular at our times? We could hardly find any kids who would ask Santa for a nice book for Christmas or it’s a rare sight where a toddler wishes that the tooth fairy would get a book which contains beautiful poems or stories. Digitization has captivated not just the economical status of the country but also has impacted this young generation. The excitement for “Ipad” has masked the “My Bad” situation for not being able to enjoy the flipping of pages and slipping into the island of thoughts where one would love to lose oneself.

Children today are more realistic and believe in what they see and they are the facts explorers. The fairy fantasy world is so old school now. Inspite of that the elements like animated superheroes and the supernatural characters attract them due to the magnetism they possess. The vibrant representation of these has uprooted the traditional formats of spending time productively in a day. Kids find happiness in singing with the digital assistant or seek solace in playing games on their Digi tabs which contains shooting criminal and vampires or running over the railway track and getting points by heroic sprint – risking lives. These are skill games which require lots of strategies and planning. But what’s on stake? Nah! Nothing much. It’s just their tiny brains and bright eyes which are getting hurt. Not there much on the losing side… Sounds disturbing? It’s we who are leading them to this century. Spending time with them might not have cost you this.

Lifestyle Changes – Edustoke

Schools today boast about the digital learning and the smart board boards which they flaunt to us when we go to have a look at the institution which might be the prospective school for our kids. Huge plasmas or projectors are kept where the concepts are explained the way that are easier to reach to the children. The concepts to be explained are digitally modified which is a great hit with the students at school because of which many schools have adapted this method in their academics. But what else would make the kids be attentive in the class? What are those things which will be like an “Out of the Box” activities which aides in better concept understanding or helps students concentrate effectively over the chapters being taught?

Here are 7 activities that can help our buddies at school to keep up a good pace in their learning:

1. Going the Indian way: Indian practices like meditation and yoga are the proven methods of improving the concentration and their concept retention. Going the old school way which were inculcated in the Gurukulas, where the students chanted Omkara and practised some breathing techniques, helped them grasp the elaborate Vedas and Vedantas with much ease. Devoting a small chunk of time to practise the same everyday in the class would definitely prove beneficial on the long run. Starting the class with a pranayama or ending a lecture with Omkara chanting will ease the built up stress on these young scholarly brains.

2. Its Quiz time! : Conducting a quick quiz on the chapters learnt in the previous classes will keep the students on their toes. Be it a group activity or an individual one, oral quizzes can extract more excitement from them. This is a best format of revision. Keep conducting the quiz every week to keep them away of getting exempted by a reward. Reward can be either a star on their collar or giving chocolates or even the luxury of borrowing 3 books from the library. Being innovative is the key.

3. Promoting group activity: The peer group relationship is one of the strongest kinds of relationship the children hold during their school days. Things which are not even shared by the parents are revealed in their comfort zone which is to their friends group. Making a group project or teaming them up for a group discussion is a very promising learning activity. The team spirit brings out better result in place of individual attempt. Assigning a project for a group every week that shall be responsible in explaining some chapters or enacting a Shakespearean play which is a part of the English syllabus – evokes ample interest from the class.

4. Say what you say, mean what you mean: Curtailing ambiguities, making a meaningful hour. A Q&A session after each class in a unique way like “Listing out 10 points of today’s class”, “Preparing something like a Minutes of the Meeting about today’s purpose of a discussion” so on. An interactive approach including the students gives prominence on giving them the prime importance by applauding for any unique ideas and knowledge sharing in case of a negative response, builds their confidence and in turn is a thumbs up when it comes to you gaining their trust. A humble eye to eye contact or even making some positive affirmations together on making classes better will act like the building blocks of a constructive learning environment.

5. Your own rules, your own texts: Studying should all be about fun induced learning. Not bound to any particular pattern or a particular template of teaching. The understanding of the concept and application of the same must be held as the prime focus and not mere scribbling something called “Notes”. Reference sake jotting down and then reinventing and rekindling the skilful person in you should hold more value in a development aided learning environment. Bring out those artists and writers; bring out the debater in them. Unveil the actors who could recite the William Wordsworth’s poems with ease like how they easily enact a soliloquy. Unleash their talent in innumerable ways that give them a satisfaction that they are in the safe, kind hands. This is also an activity that promotes individuality and independent attributes.

PTM – The Do’s and the Dont’s – Edustoke

6. Tell me your dreams: “The virtuous man contents himself with dreaming that which the wicked man does in actual life.” ― Sigmund Freud. The Interpretation of Dreams. Dreaming is an amazing experience for children. They dream in colours so unknown which is yet to decipher. Their dreams carry so many of their wishes, demands, sorrow and the cruel saga which are all hidden in the sub-conscious corner of their tender minds. Things or actions which cannot be expressed to this real, practical world will attain its totality over their dreams. Studies show that those children who are asked about their dreams find their way out of any mental dilemma they are going through. A weekly activity about talking about their dreams, the ambitions, their goals and all those they desire to achieve will boast their efficiency in learning. A better retention of concepts and recalling them on a regular basis increases memory and results in a complete, satisfying learning procedure.

7. Up together down together, leave your seats! : A mundane math class, a boring biology lecture… languages sing me a lullaby, chemistry makes me cry! Why be regular when you can do so much better?! Standing at one place and blurting out all those which you had prepared for the class will just fetch you the children’s physical attendance. But are they really with you? The point is to make it an effective classroom environment where there is any kind of learning happening. So first- Loosen up, pull your socks down and be at ease. Walk down to their temperament. It’s not easy to be a student. A perspective that mere textbook teaching is enough- can bring you no gain. Step in to their shoes and try to adapt a tone which is pleasing, one with them. Affectionate versus authoritative in simple language. Sailing the ship with a firm grip – being strict and stiff with the rules is natural but being sensible and crisp with the content will attain more likes. Try to utilize the classroom space by roaming around so that their drooping eyes pay attention to the direction you are moving. Make them stand up and sit down every time you utter a particular word like “OK” or “Did you understand?” This way they try to focus on what you talk and you then can focus on what you have to make them listen to.

Mirror mirror on the wall. What does a best school need at all?!

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