‘Joyful learning at Strawberry makes the difference’

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 1

For the past few years, Class X-XII results in the ICSE and the ISC have been ruled by students of Strawberry Fields High School, Chandigarh, in the tricity. The students of this school have been constantly grabbing top positions. During a tete-a-tete, director of the school Atul Khanna reveals the reason for their success.

This year, the school had all the top three tricity ranks in Class XII and the second and third rank in Class X. Last year also, the Class XII topper was from the school. Khanna said, “There is never one reason for the success of an institution. It is a collective effort. Since the inception, a certain culture and environment has been created which provides conducive joyful learning. It is this environment that shapes young minds, ignites their curiosity and encourages them to keep striving towards excellence and raising the bar.”

The director credits the freedom given to the management by the board of trustees along with the dynamism of the principal, respective school coordinators and the staff for their success. “We are not in competition with any school or institution. We just keep revisiting our own work and see how we can improve further. One thing that sets us apart is the quality of their teachers who are constantly nurtured to be effective and consistent. Regular evaluations, training, brainstorming and internal as well as external mentoring enhance the performance,” says Khanna.

While they continue to produce toppers every year, the school does not believe in counting the number. He says, “We help each student in maximising their potential. It is our belief that there is no peak that a student cannot scale. We are grateful to all those who contribute to the scenario where there is a consistent and steady stream of toppers. Most significantly, it is the students who are to be credited for handling the pressure of exams, results, percentages and also balancing expectations that friends, family and teachers may have of them.”

“Education is perhaps the most serious of all services that can be provided to mankind. By according it importance, we embark on each of our respective roles and responsibilities. That translates into good results,” he said.

Khanna said, “It is important for each child to believe in their abilities and know their strengths and weaknesses. They need to be equipped with life skills to overcome weaknesses and put in the right effort.” The virtues required for the same, according to Khanna were concentration, focus, self-assessment, discipline, hard work and dedication.

He said, “Our single minded pursuit is to provide the best possible education and we have state-of-the-art infrastructure for the same.” However, he adds that more than this, it was the teachers and the committed students that make the difference.