Interviews
‘Academics & school timings made easy for us to choose Apeejay’
Abhijeet Chakravarty shares his joy at enrolling his daughter in Apeejay School, Nerul.
For Abhijeet Chakravarty, choosing Apeejay School, Nerul for his daughter Chayanika came down to a mix of academic reputation and a few practical, everyday considerations. He shares what made this Navi Mumbai school worthwhile for his daughter and how he has seen holistic improvement in her. Read edited excerpts:
What made you consider this school for your child in the first place?
Academics played the most important role for us. We were confident that Apeejay maintained genuinely high academic standards — in its teaching approach, its pedagogy, and the quality of its teachers. That was really the foremost consideration for us.
We didn’t want a school singularly focused on exam results. We wanted an environment that would encourage Chayanika’s interests outside the classroom too, and Apeejay has delivered well on that front.
What were three things you liked about Apeejay after admitting Chayanika here?
The brand and reputation the School has created for itself is what I feel was true. It stands by what it says. The reputation built up through extracurricular offerings and general standing, which we had heard a lot of positive word of mouth about in the market, proved true.
Also, everyday considerations like the school timings and its location were manageable, since we both are working.
The teaching quality and pedagogical approach at Apeejay. It initially drew us in but after admission, our decision grew stronger. Now we are at peace that we have admitted our daughter at Apeejay.
How important are factors such as extracurricular activities, sports, arts, or other opportunities in the school?
Apart from academics, this is genuinely one of the school’s strengths. The balance between academics and extracurriculars here is excellent. Chayanika has enrolled in several short courses alongside her regular studies. She started with chess and has since moved into crochet and embroidery. The school consistently introduces new activities. We, as a parent, make sure she stays involved in co-curricular pursuits alongside her academics.
How is the school environment and the way teachers interact with students?
It is very positive. The school does emphasise conceptual understanding over rote learning, which aligns well with what we’d hoped for under the newer approach to education. The thing I like about teachers in Apeejay is that they don’t run to complete syllabus. They take it slow and their pace of study and learning depends upon the learners.
Did factors such as location, infrastructure, safety, or accessibility influence your decision?
Safety was certainly a consideration, and so far, we’ve had no complaints. Chayanika when joining the school was quite shy and we were afraid if someone spoke disrespectful or she got hurt. But luckily no such incidents have happened yet. The washroom facilities and general campus upkeep have been well maintained, and we hope the school continues to hold that standard going forward.
How will you analyse your child’s progress after joining Apeejay School Nerul?
Chayanika has settled in well academically and has found a good rhythm balancing her studies with the extracurricular activities. This is the kind of balance we were hoping for when we made the switch. We have seen her getting confident and blossoming.
She has also started exploring new interests through the activities the school offers. Watching her pursue things like chess and embroidery alongside her academics has been wonderful, and it reflects a well-rounded growth we’re really pleased with.
