‘Apeejay Panchsheel Park teachers give the same quality of education even in an online class’

Mrs Renu Aggarwal is a Section Officer at the Indian Council of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture. She is the mother of Shreyansh, Nursery student at Apeejay Panchsheel Park. Her husband Nishant Omar is an Automation Test Leads officer at Accenture Information Technology Company. In an exclusive interview, she shares her reasons for choosing the school, her child’s progress at the school and her perception about the online classes. Edited Excerpts:

Why did you select Apeejay Panchsheel Park over other schools?

Actually, one of my colleagues’ son is an Apeejay Panchsheel Park alumnus. So I always got a very nice review about Apeejay Panchsheel Park’s schooling system. They always said that his experience was great. They used to tell me that the curriculum at the school is modelled on activity based learning not homework based learning. Therefore, a student is totally involved in the process of learning.

Before enrolling Shreyansh in Apeejay Panchsheel Park I had enrolled him in another school. We did not find the school environment great there. My first preference was always Apeejay Panchsheel Park so we got him enrolled quickly to this school. My plan was to enroll him in Apeejay Panchsheel Park before he turns three years old. I am glad he is now in a school with a very encouraging and advanced environment.  

Please tell us a bit about your child and take us through his progress at school?

Shreyansh is usually an introvert in a new situation. He takes a little bit of time to open up. Even in the recent Parent Teachers Meeting (PTM), he was very shy and silent in front of his teachers. But the next time he went to the school, he enjoyed himself totally and told me everything he noticed in the class and all that happened.

He loves to play with his toy car. If anyone wants to interact with him, one just has to mention the topic of cars and he gets involved completely in the conversation (laughs.) He likes dancing as well. He has made friends in the class, Danish and Amoha. So, I would say he is gradually growing and learning.

Shreyansh is not a conventionally focused child actually. To make him concentrate on a subject one needs to put in a lot of effort. A student, I feel is completely involved only when the learning environment is activity based. The teachers at Apeejay Panchsheel Park do this and also involve all the students both individually and as a whole. So, Shreyansh then feels encouraged and voluntarily participates in the class.

Are the teachers engaging well with the students?

The teachers are teaching very well. As I had said previously, that before Apeejay Panchsheel Park, we had enrolled him at another school. We did not find the learning environment good there. Now we think we have made the best decision by getting him enrolled here. Apeejay Panchsheel Park is very advanced as a school. The teachers are completely involved with the students. His class teacher, Ms Ashima Khera is doing a wonderful job. She ensures that every child participates in the class. The child starts to feel so comfortable that he, at times forgets if he is in the class or at home.

What is the best thing about Apeejay Panchsheel Park?

Their teachers I think. Apeejay Panchsheel Park has teachers for each and every subject. Be it Art and Craft, Dance or Music. Even within dance and music they have two types of teachers, one for Indian and one for western style. There’s a yoga teacher as well. The school has teachers for each and every thing.

What is your perception about the online classes?

I feel during the current situation of the pandemic, the teachers are doing everything possible. They put in all their efforts. They even take classes on the same subject in two sessions. I feel that our children are getting the same quality of education in the online class. Yes, the physical interaction is missed but that isn’t much of a concern at present. The teachers are ensuring that a student gets an atmosphere of total learning. I must say, Hats off! to the teachers at Apeejay Panchsheel Park.