Teaching students coping skills, encouraging self-awareness

Education involves a right balance of academic and co-curricular activities. How is your institution providing this balance to students?

Hansraj since its very inception has been committed to providing holistic learning experiences so as to ensure that Hansarians are not only academically proficient but also are given ample opportunities to learn and practice skills and competencies required to succeed in the real world. Activity-based experiential learning is intrinsically integrated in the school curriculum. Also values inherent to the Indian culture are inculcated through regular ‘havans’ and community outreach projects. Club activities, special assemblies, celebrations of days and festivals, conduct of intra and inter-school competitions along with projects that have an international dimension enrich our students.

Motto of your school and how are students being trained to follow it?

The school motto, ‘Modernity with Tradition’, is visible on the school processes and systems. On one hand, Hansarians are encouraged to take wings into the future with well-planned practice of the 21st century skills like critical thinking, decision making, creative expression, communication skills, and on the hand, they are trained to respect their roots displaying Indian values and traditions. Vedic value systems find a prominent place in the school curriculum.

As head of the institution what is your vision and how you are making it a reality?

I believe that vision without execution is a delusion. My outlook aligns with the vision and the mission of the school. The team Hansraj works diligently to prepare children for life, giving them values needed to turn them into good and responsible human beings who are lifelong learners and have a global outlook. We adopt progressive methodologies that are in sync with the dynamic times to create a wholesome experience for our students.

What are the assessment practices used in your school?

The assessment and evaluation practice at Hansraj focuses on the overall development of students, helping them to think critically and nurturing age-appropriate skills and competencies. The emphasis is more on assessment for learning and assessment as learning rather than assessment of learning. The evaluation process adopted in the school is continuous and comprehensive reflecting the directives of NEP-2020.

Sports and co-curricular activities for students.

Opportunities to participate in games, sports and physical development activities find intrinsic place in the daily time table of the school. Students are given coaching and practice in skating, yoga, taekwondo and drill organised games like basketball, football, volleyball, badminton, etc, are offered to students who reach the school early to hone their skills. Hansarians have brought laurels for the school at the district, state, national and international level in badminton, skating, martial arts, athletics, etc.

NEP-2020 has laid special emphasis on vocational skills and entrepreneurships. How is your school providing these two through curriculum?

As far as vocational skills are concerned, the CBSE has introduced an array of skill subjects that aim at enhancing the employability skills of the students. We at HPS are offering skill courses from Class VI onwards, and these range from design thinking or AI or IT or FMM to skill subjects like herbal heritage; the list is quite wide. We are making every child from Class VI to X take up at least one skill subject. The idea is to give them experiential exposure to the futuristic skills, whether they decide to work for an organisation or intend to be job creators in the future. We are facilitating our students in running an enterprise craftribe which not only aims to hone their entrepreneurial skill but also the vision and mission of the enterprise focuses on instilling in them a sense of responsibility towards society and planet earth.

What measures has the school taken to help students cope with stress and to develop their EQ?

The school adopts a combination of strategies aimed at fostering a supportive environment for students teaching them coping skills and encouraging self-awareness. There is an atmosphere of an open communication system wherein students can comfortably speak and interact with teachers, counsellors, and coordinators to share their feelings and clear doubts. Teachers are trained to deal with mental health issues and work along with the counsellors and other professionals called from outside. Regular workshops are held to generate awareness among young student to help them self-regulate. Socio-emotional development is central to the curriculum with activities dedicated to bring about empathy and mindfulness.