STRATEGIES FOR A GOOD AND SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL

Every school aspires to be in the list of top schools  but very few really work hard behind it to achieve this glory. Perhaps I would like to say that very few schools initiate with a well planned objective and ensure that they are traversing in the right direction to achieve it. Every school should have a mission and a vision i.e. the Long term and Short term objectives and should strive to attain it in the due course of time set for it. A school is not really a building with four walls but It is actually a temple of learning where the pupils are imparted knowledge and values to become perfect learned and competent human beings. 

Most schools pick up various challenging and  significant objectives to prove themselves and build up a USP which is unique and not found with other schools . They toil hard to achieve it in order to be in the lead. What should be the strategy actually to be in the list of key schools. I would like to throw light on some important points according to my experiences in this profession past 25 years. It may or may not match to the views of everyone but what I have experienced is being put forward to you. I hope it may help you too in earning a good name for your school if followed with sincerity.

*The first and the foremost tip which I would like to give everyone is not to follow blindly what others are doing.Don't just move in tandem and give a thought what is better for your institution.  It's not necessary that what suits other school's would suit yours too. Thus explore what your school needs and for the same it's necessary to explore and analyse which section of the society you cater to and what are the needs of those students. Examine their potentials and needs and then decide from where to start and what to start. Strategies should be linked to the main objectives of your institution and ensure to simplify your chief goal by breaking down in to smaller segments and then strive achieving one by one eventually you reach the main objective.

State of the Art infrastructure on the lines of modern education system: If you are planning for a school at par with the standards of the modern system of education  then infrastructure is the one you need to work out at first. Infrastructure includes Buildings with all modern amenities requisite to the 21st century educational needs. It should have a separate Primary Block decked up with all basic amenities that fulfill the needs of the budding scholars  and at the same time a separate Middle and Secondary wing too. Spacious class rooms of standard specifications with smart boards and lockers, Notice Boards to display necessary and day to day information's, walls painted neatly and in bright colors to provide a soothing ambiance, comfortable and standard furniture(s) for children to get a right posture etc. are the things which should be considered.

 Every one may not be in the state to invest this much thus  try to organize and provide what ever you can within your range/budget to attain your planned objectives.

Commence with a clear Vision: Every work is done or accomplished to achieve a certain target or objective and to proceed without a target or a clear vision is like groping in the dark. Thus first chalk out a vision and a mission for your school and then give it a clear start. When you know your objectives it becomes easy to plan further. The arrangement of the resources required to accomplish your goal  depends upon the set objectives. It is also necessary that the objectives set should match to the needs of the organization for which it is set up.

Hiring qualified and competent staff: The success of any organization depend on the selection of right and experienced staff. They are the one whose efforts if channelized towards the right direction may yield high and satisfactory results as well as enhance the goodwill of the organization too.

Training of the hired staff: Training and development is a necessary tool to empower and  hone the existing skills of the employees which results in increased productivity. Thus training  of the hired staff is mandatory and essential at regular intervals. It helps to keep them self motivated and inspired, updated with the regular improvements and reforms in their area, keep them technologically efficient, and also makes them competent and strong to face the upcoming challenges of their job area. The present demand of any organization is to have smart workers in lieu of hard workers.

Fulfill what you commit: It is vital to keep the stakeholders happy and satisfied because they are your clients and their satisfaction is of utmost importance for your organization. If they are kept satisfied they would  be the one to publicize your school comprehensively.  As you all know mouth to mouth publicity is considered as the most effective tool in today's global world. So, Ladies and Gentlemen be careful and commit and once you commit then go to any extreme to fulfill it. You should always remember to keep the objective of the school on priority before you  head for anything.

Tmely increments and salaries: Those schools aspiring to grow needs to have an attractive salary package  for the teachers and also satisfactory increments and incentives policy based on the performances. This will allure and attract goods teachers to your school. Good teachers are an asset to the organization and all measures should be adopted to retain them for a longer period of time. Good pay structure, timely salaries and attractive increments based on outcome may increase the staff retention thus slowing down the churning out process.   

Devise thoughtfully an activity calendar: The 21st century learning is focused not only on the classroom learning using text books as an aid but learning beyond it. Experiential learning is considered as the effective method which means learning by doing. Various co-scholastic and co-curricular activities should  be added in the planner to help the children explore their latent talents and get these skills enhanced by proper training. These activities should be devised in the beginning of the session itself and should get incorporated in the main timetable for effective implementation.

Developing communicative skills in scholars:  Schools should help children to express their thoughts and feelings with out any fear. They should be taught to articulate and express their thoughts lucidly in whatsoever matter be it and without the same s/he has to maintain silence at various places or may be scared to talk if got a chance.remain either mute or non-reactive. Thus all the scholars should be prompted to speak in the class and regular reading and writing  with pronunciations should be encouraged and exercised to develop their speaking skills and confidence. Sufficient reading and writing practice would help them in learning and understanding of other subjects too would be an added advantage. Good interactive skills are necessary as a part of the 21st century education  to make them globally competitive.

Devise a proper Assessment policy: Assessments are important to diagnose the comprehending level and ability of children in the syllabus covered and also to encourage competition and help them set targets. The assessments planned shouldn't overburden the students and also consume more than one fourth of the available working days. I would also like to add here that the marks scored in the assessment or exams are just figures and these figures can't decide the ability of the child. It is because the child is awarded only on the basis of what he has tried to present in the answer sheet. You never know the mindset of the child at the time of taking the exam. It can also happen that s/he is/was not in a proper mood to take the examination or didn't feel to write even though after knowing the answers. Thus we can't never judge a child by his score in any particular exam.

Adequate arrangement for safety and security of the campus::

Ensure hygiene and safe drinking water in and around the school campus: Every school should prioritize to facilitate their students by giving them a clean environment for learning. Clean environment may be in the form of clean and  hygienic washrooms, campus, pure drinking water, and tidy classrooms. It is very necessary to provide a suitable learning atmosphere  to the students to make them love coming to school. if they are provided with a clean and hygienic ambiance it wouldn't affect the regularity and there would be full attendance in every class.

Motivate students to bring nutritious meals in their Lunch Box: Along with good environment good eating habits too are necessary for the proper and balanced growth of the children. Counsel and motivate them to refrain from eating junk and fast foods which are the invites for many fatal diseases causing hypertension and juvenile diabetes at the early age. Tell them that it may affect their lever and kidneys and paralyze it.

Communicate parents regularly regarding students performance in the class as well on field: It is necessary for the parents to know what their children do in the school. Apprise them regularly of all the activities designed for them along with academics for their overall development. They also need to be provided with feedback's regarding their child as to how h/she responds to these activities. One to one discussions should take place at least once a month either with the Principal,teachers or the counselors appointed to help the children to attain focus towards their goal. Any deviations or distractions if found in children should be closely monitored and dealt timely to avoid any damages at a later stage.

Briefing parents about good parenting skills: Human beings are emotional animals and thus have lot of expectations  from their family members and counterparts. Many parents dream of their children highly irrespective of their potentials and thus have to face the shock when they fail to achieve or meet their expectations. Over expectations of parents are a vital threat to the children. Their future remains at stake and can prove fatal in the long run. Thus it is very necessary for the school to regularly brief the parents about good parenting skills. They should be taught the skills of handling grown up adolescent kids.  Its natural that the adolescents get irritated very soon on petty matters due to the biological changes taking place in their body. It's the duty of the parents and teachers to understand them and deal with them strategically.

Apprising students regularly about various social abuses according to their happenings:The school should keep on regularly apprising the children about various social abuses prevalent in the society. They should be mentored to encounter such threats and should be provided certain tips as to what they should do if they get placed themselves in such a situation. Self Defense techniques should be taught to boys and girls both to save themselves from hidden dangers as it is very significant to tell here that in today's crazy world neither boys nor girls are safe.

Tips to remain fit and healthy: Fitness is the need of the time and everyone is going freak to maintain a slim trim  and attractive physique or figure. children's from the beginning itself should be trained to remain fit and healthy. Regular exercise followed by power yoga and aerobics etc should form the part of the daily schedule. A balanced diet to maintain their fat and carb level should also form an important part of the training.

 Keep the students socially and technologically updated: Innovations and change have become part of the daily life and thus science has brought phenomenal changes in every one's life. Thus it is very necessary to keep the children updated with various scientific and technological changes happening around the globe. This will help the children to be techno smart and definitely would be inspired to do all their tasks in different manner than the usual. This practice will help them to be innovative and bring novelty in whatever they do.

Encourage STEM related activities to develop scientific skills: Schools in order to promote and encourage scientific skills in children should involve them in various scientific experiments with the help of science manuals and resources. The children should be made to think as to what different things can be devised out of the given resources other than taught or illustrated in the manual. This exercise will help the children to innovate by thinking out of the box. Hand on learning is considered as the best because here children learn by doing and it gets stored in their memory for a longer period of time.

Career counselling sessions for students : Choosing a right career at the right time is necessary to have a successful and desirous life. choosing a career post knowing your interest and talents in the specific area it's also important to know the right path through which it can be reached. School should organize career counseling sessions and help students in the subject selections as well choosing a right career matching to their skills, interests and potentials. Children should be guided as to - What to do, When to do and How to do. Some children remain confused throughout and are never able to reach a point as to what next after their schooling They are bound to follow and abide what their parents force them without having any idea. Later they land up themselves in trouble and eventually have to  compromise with it through out their life..one wrong decision of their life  makes them carry this burden throughout and their entire life gets affected as a part of this error.

Social awareness through myriad activities: School is a place where the queries and curiosities of the children are satiated. They are made aware of the traditions and customs  to keep them in touch with the culture of our country so as to transact the same to the next generation. Upcoming social changes are made known to them according to their happenings to keep them abreast. The best way of teaching or spreading awareness in  them is through plays and skits which gets inculcated in their memory for a longer period of time. Some social awareness activities which students should be made aware of in schools are about "Gender Equality" "Good and Bad touch" "Self Defense techniques for personal safety" "Go Green (Save Environment)" "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" "Consequences of excessive uses of Gadgets and Gizmos" "Degrading values and it's repercussions" etc.

Managements agile role: Besides all these discussed above the managements role is very vital in the development and success of any school. It depends on the response of the management in various areas as to how seriously they take the feed backs or the problems encountered and sort it out. Procrastination in dealing with the problems may lead to negative results and the damage once done may be irreparable because if you leave any stake holder discontented, it is enough to cause unlimited damage. Thus the management's active role is very necessary to help the school grow in leaps and bounds.

Grievances of Staff and Students: Staff and Students are a part of the school family and thus all the members of the family need to remain happy to be called as a Happy Family. Give enough space to the teachers and students to share their problems and grievances if any. All the valid grievances should be noted and should take measures to address it at the earliest or else it may become sore if allowed to persist long and do considerable damages to the organization. So Prevention is better than cure.

Eminent sports facilities: Good school's should have large playground to meet the necessities of sports facilities as envisioned and committed to the stakeholders. Enough space for outdoor and indoor games with latest and modern equipment's and accessories should be facilitated so as to meet the requisites of Health and Physical Education along with academics in school. Students should be made to participate and choose the games post identifying their interests and potentials. Experienced coaches for each game should be appointed so as to train the students in the interested sports. 

Wide Publicity: Every activity or achievements administered in the school should find a place in the leading print and electronic media regularly. People should be apprised  where your school stand and what are you doing for the children. The USP of your school will fetch you good admissions and hence your school will grow in leaps and  bounds if you execute the policies with dedication and sincerity without anticipating the results.

Dear all,

I have discussed various points what a school should do to grow and get enlisted in the top rank. There may be various points other than these and if you feel that some thing important has been missed out by chance then please do write to me on ashokkumar28091968@gmail.com and also share your suggestions about the blog whether you Liked/Disliked. It would really help me to improve myself. Awaiting your response and feed backs. Jai Hind