Interview with Mrs. Neera Singh, Principal, Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls' Public School

• 21 May 2024

An exclusive interview with Mrs. Neera Singh, Principal of Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls' Public School

 

By D.Raghavendra for ET TECH X, May 20, 2024

 

Introducing Mrs. Neera Singh, a distinguished educator with over three decades of experience and a profound commitment to educational excellence. Armed with an MPhil in English from Mumbai University, Mrs. Singh's journey in education has been nothing short of illustrious. Mrs. Singh's leadership style is characterized by democratic principles, fostering an environment of professional growth and accessibility for all. She is renowned for her exceptional multitasking abilities, navigating deadlines with precision and inspiring cohesive teamwork. Under her guidance, RKKGPS has not only upheld its prestigious legacy but flourished, becoming a beacon of educational excellence.

 

Beyond her administrative duties, Mrs. Singh is a catalyst for positive change within the school community, driving innovation in pedagogy and inspiring greatness among students and staff alike. Her contributions to education have earned her numerous accolades, including 'Outstanding Principal of the Year', 'Edu Icon of the Year', and 'EduLeader of the Year'. Additionally, she has been recognized as an 'Exemplary Educationist of the Year', solidifying her status as one of the nation's foremost educators. Mrs. Singh's insights into effective teaching methodologies, equitable education practices, and the challenges posed by technology in education make her a sought-after voice in the educational landscape.

 

From your perspective, what is the principal's primary responsibility?

 

The Principal's role extends beyond leadership to being an integral team member. The Principal should believe in an open-door policy, allowing staff and students to communicate freely at any time. The Principal must support and empower teachers through professional development and provide the necessary resources for their success. Open communication with students, parents, and staff fosters a collaborative and supportive community. Effective leadership involves creating more leaders and leaving a lasting legacy focussing on the broader vision and opportunities for everyone. Keeping staff and students motivated requires providing opportunities for all and ensuring a safe, nurturing environment where every student and staff member can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Basically a Principal is solely responsible for nurturing the Happiness Quotient of the school.

 

How do you foster leadership among educators?

 

RKK believes in fostering environment of trust, collaboration, professional and personal development of all. Some key approaches and strategies through which we empower our teachers to be leaders are:

 

a. Organizing of workshops and training sessions tailored to teachers’ interests and needs that help them acquire new skills and stay updated on educational best practices.

b. Sending teachers for conferences for new learnings.

c. Giving leadership roles as HODs and Deans. 

d. Pairing experienced teachers with new or less experienced ones

e. Inter departmental trainings and workshops for teachers.

f. Regular recognition through awards, public acknowledgments, personal notes.

g. Giving them autonomy in their classrooms and recognizing and valuing their expertise and contributions.

h. Teachers are House Mistresses leading the Houses of the school. Policy is “Each One Mentors One” in order to groom and inculcate leadership quality in teachers. 

 

 

How does the Institution manage to integrate academic rigor with holistic student development?

 

The school strikes a balance between academic rigor and holistic development by implementing a comprehensive educational approach. This includes integrating a well-rounded curriculum that emphasizes both strong academic foundations and a variety of extracurricular activities. Students engage in sports, arts, and community service projects, ensuring they develop physical, creative, and social skills alongside academic knowledge. Personalized attention is provided through manageable class sizes and individual support, catering to diverse learning needs. Additionally, regular physical exercise is mandated, and emphasis is placed on experiential and joyful learning, fostering overall well-being and personal growth alongside academic achievement. Every child has to compulsorily opt for an individual and a team game on gaining entry into RKK. Ongoing professional development for educators and active engagement with parents and the community reinforce this balanced approach, creating a learning environment that promotes academic excellence and prepares students for success in all facets of life.

 

What measures do you implement to ensure a secure learning environment on campus?

 

To support a safe learning environment on a school campus, we have implemented comprehensive safety policies and have secured campus access through controlled entry points and surveillance systems. A customized SOP has been prepared for the safety and security of students and staff. Regular emergency preparedness drills and digital safety education is ensured. To protect students against cyber threats RKK has a cyber council of 40 students who look into the cyber safety of the students. Providing mental health support and fostering an inclusive, respectful culture we address students' well-being and promote a positive atmosphere. Through Anti-bullying programs and clear reporting mechanisms we actively combat bullying. The whole campus is under CCTV Camera Surveillance, has Suggestion Boxes in every School Building, there is a Redressal Committee for complaints (if any) and anonymity is ensured. Counselling sessions regarding POCSO and POSH are bi-annual features of the school. The school has a zero tolerance policy in case the code of conduct is not adhered to.

 

How do you guarantee equity in education for all students?

 

At RKK, every stakeholder is dedicated to providing students with a caring and personalized learning environment, achieved through a strong and constructive partnership with supportive parents. Education for our 1,700 students is delivered through mutual engagement between committed teachers, motivated students, and parents who deeply believe in our school. RKK has fully embraced the new National Education Policy (NEP) from Nursery onwards, with all teaching and learning based on the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). Key aspects of this approach include joyful learning, an experiential and subject-integrated approach, and the inclusion of hands-on activities. We maintain class sizes of 25 in Pre-Primary and 30 from Grade I to XII, ensuring personalized attention and an ideal teacher-student ratio. Our curriculum balances rigorous academics with a variety of extracurricular activities, including mandatory 45-minute physical exercise sessions daily, where each student participates in either a team or individual sport. We emphasize 100% participation in activities rather than selective competition, and the school does not use a ranking system, encouraging students to compete with themselves and focus on personal growth.

 

Share some key attributes of effective teachers and how they influence your hiring criteria.

 

The role of a teacher goes beyond teaching and it encompasses nurturing the intellectual, emotional and social development of a child. A teacher is an educator, mentor, inspirer, lifelong learner, counsellor and a leader. The key traits however are passion for teaching, strong communication skills, strong subject knowledge, creative and innovative, empathy, compassion and most important must have a positive attitude towards his/her profession.

 

RKK has a customized standard operating procedure for hiring teachers where a particular candidate goes through a process before he/she becomes the member of the RKK family. A teacher is assessed for multiple skills beyond her academic qualification and experience. Aligning with the institution’s vision and goals, a candidate is tested on her / his ability to connect with children, has a secular approach, is a good team player, tech savvy, innovative and creative, who possesses a smiling face, good soft skills, adaptability, smart turn out and pleasing demeanour. By focusing on these specific traits, an effective teacher is hired who will contribute positively to the learning environment and adapts to the WE Culture of the school.

Can you outline a successful approach to boosting student engagement?

 

RKK takes a student-centric approach, with students being the heart of the school. Through the student council, students actively participate in the management and welfare of both the school and their peers. RKK's numerous memberships like Round Square, Indian Public Schools’ Conference (IPSC), AFS India, British Council, International Award for Young People (IAYP), Boarding Schools’ Association of India (BSAI) and MU20 School of Opportunity, enable students to participate in various conferences, events, and competitions, and they have opportunities to travel globally for cultural exchange programs. The school runs various Service Projects like :

 

• Project Prayaas, where manufacturing and free distribution of Sanitary Napkins is conducted for under privileged girls and women of Marwar.

• Project Shiksha, where free remedial classes are conducted for under privileged girls of Keru & Desuri.

• Project Shakti, where women are empowered through manufacturing of Soft Toys to earn their livelihood.

 

All the platforms and forums provided by RKK teaches students valuable life lessons, embodying the belief in "Schooling for Life...".

By earning Colour Badges for their participation, students gain recognition and appreciation, which constructively engages them and fosters a sense of achievement. It is an embellishment on their school uniform to wear their Colour Badges with pride throughout their school journey.  

 

In your view, what presents the most significant obstacle in education today?

 

The biggest challenge education is facing today is TECHNOLOGY. Artificial intelligence, internet usage, tools like Chat GPT are negatively impacting students by reducing their attention spans, hindering development of critical thinking and problem solving skills.

 

When all information is readily available to the students on an easy click, the challenge for the teachers is to keep the students engrossed and happily involved and abreast themselves with the changing trends to surpass the education boom. Challenge for the school is to implement strategies and polices for equipping the teachers with relevant and not redundant training sessions to help them excel in this rapidly evolving landscape. Another challenge for the school is to ensure sound Mental Health for each and every stakeholder of the school.