Upgrade with time, focus on discipline & talk to kids often

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, October 22

The Tribune Trust, in collaboration with Chandigarh University, organised the Principals’ Meet and Excellence Awards in Ambala City on Monday.

Chandigarh University Vice-Chancellor RS Bawa and Dr Manoj K Sharma, Professor, University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, dwell on the aspects of change management, ensuring success through diligence, discipline and dedication.

Principals and the management staff from 45 schools of Ambala, Yamunanagar, Pehowa, Shahabad and Ismailabad attended the event. RS Bawa discussed the role of the schools in the lives of children. He said teachers were like parents  to children. He said, “We will have to accept the change. Only 30 per cent of the parents in the country are capable of guiding their children. The responsibility of the remaining children is on teachers. We are the people who can bring this change.”

He suggested the principals to strictly ensure discipline in schools. Bawa added, “Currently discipline is the least important thing in this country. We have to be ruthless in ensuring discipline because parents are not much serious about this important factor. Mobile phones, films and TV serials have been a major reason behind indiscipline among children. In the corporate world or any other place, indiscipline is not tolerated. To keep children away from distractions like mobile phones and films, you have to strengthen their base. Talk to them and teach them what is right and wrong.”

Challenge yourself

Bawa asked the principals to challenge themselves. He said “We all should challenge ourselves and teach the same to students. There is no limit to improvement. Everybody has immense talent.” He asked the principals to make students potentially great professionals and also enable them understand the socio-economic scenario of the country. "Educational institutions should not only produce professionals but also responsible citizens," he said.

Never give up

Guest of honour Dr Manoj K Sharma, Professor, University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, asked the principals to be ready for the change. “Our goals are changing. We will have to talk about it. To ensure success, three Ds —diligence, discipline and dedication— are required.” Motivating the principals, he said, “When you face difficult situations, you should do environment analysis. Change your thinking with time and you will be in a win-win situation. Never give up. After every failure, just change your strategy  and work hard. You will always find a way to win. The environment has changed drastically with time. In this environment, it is appropriate to change and try something different."   

Principalspeak

Improvement a must

"It is a step in the right direction. At every stage, there is a scope for improvement. The points raised here were very important. The suggestions given by the experts must be implemented." — Dr Vikas Kohli, principal, Police DAV Public School, Ambala City

Upgrade system

"It was a good platform. We need to upgrade the system. The points raised here will help us in making children as good citizens. The Tribune gave us a lovely platform, where we were able to find out where we stand" — Uma Sharma, principal, PKR Jain Vatika School

Great initiative 

"I congratulate The Tribune for bringing school principals  together. It is great that someone has come forward to seek views from us. The Tribune in Education (TIE)  has been a good initiative."— Minakshi Dogra, Principal,   DAV School, Naraingarh

Motivation matters

"We are grateful to The Tribune.  It is a good platform to meet and interact. Principals also need to improve. Such things are being done but when other people motivate us, the things can be done in a better way."— Ruchi Sharma, principal, Lord Mahavir Jain Public School

Ideas will benefit

"Views shared by  the experts will help immensely. Children  will be benefited. Such platforms always motivate school heads. So, it was a great collaboration between The Tribune and Chandigarh University."—  Anita Mehta, principal, SA Jain Senior Model School, Ambala City

Valid points raised 

"It is  a good initiative  by the newspaper. We always consider The Tribune as an authentic source of information. Experts highlighted relevant points of the present times during the event." — RR Suri, principal, Murlidhar DAV School, Ambala City

Need such discussions 

"There hasn’t been such an event in Ambala in the past. It is a great platform for principals to tell what they have been doing for schoolchildren. Such discussions should be held frequently."— Paramjit Saini, principal, Army Public School, Ambala Cantonment

Those honoured

Excellence in academics

PKR Jain Vatika Senior Secondary School, Ambala

Springdale Public School, Ismailabad

Mata Rukmani Rai Arya Senior Secondary School, Shahabad Markanda

DAV (Murlidhar) Shahabad Markanda School, Ambala

Tagore Public School, Pehowa

Outstanding contribution to education

Parvinder Kaur, principal, SMS Public School, Barara

Ramesh Bansal, principal, DAV Sr Sec School Ambala Cantonment

Outstanding community initiative

Mukand Lal Public School, Yamunanagar

Darshan Academy, Ambala

DAV Public School, Yamunanagar

Akal Academy, Holi Barara

Shivalik International Senior Secondary Public School, Naraingarh

Excellence in sports

Springdale Public School, Ismailabad

SMS Public School, Barara

Lord Mahavir Jain Public School, Ambala Cantonment

SA Jain Sr Model School, Ambala City

Ram Parsad DAV School, Shahabad Markanda

Eco-friendly schools

Shri Harkrishan Public School, Jhansa Kurukshetra

Police DAV Public School, Ambala Ciy

DAV Sr School, Ambala Cantonment

DAV (Murlidhar) Senior Secondary School, Ambala

Shemford School, Barara