‘Apeejay School, Noida is grooming students to become future leaders’

Dr. Abhijeet Tikkha is a proud dad of two awesome daughters – Anusha and Annika. Anusha, the elder one, is studying in class 12 Apeejay School, Noida while Annika is studying in class 7. In this informal conversation, Dr. Tikkha explains why Apeejay School is creating leaders of tomorrow.

Why did you choose Apeejay School, Noida for your daughters?
Let me first tell you a little about myself. I have done my MBA and Ph.D in Management. I am General Manger, Materials Management with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Mumbai. My wife is a Senior Dental surgeon and she has her own clinic in Noida. Our association with Apeejay started with Anusha’s admission in Apeejay School, Noida in class 2. The reason we picked Apeejay is because a lot of my wife’s cousins have studied there and they are all doing very well in life. So, even though we are staying in Delhi we took admission in Apeejay School, Noida. Annika got admission in Apeejay when she was in Nursery.

How has the school contributed to both your daughters’ development?
I have a fruitful association with the school. Anusha got All India Rank 4 in Class X CBSE Board Examinations. For this achievement, I will remain forever grateful to the school. Had the Principal, Vice Principal and Teachers not provided the stimulus to my daughter, she wouldn’t have been able to achieve this accomplishment. Right from the beginning Anusha has been involved in the Prefectorial Board of the school. She was awarded the Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values. She was felicitated with a citation and scholarship. Her German teacher encouraged her to host the inter-school German Fest. The school gave her a lot of opportunities to speak in front of large crowds. She came 2nd in the Inter-School debating competition in 2020. It’s not as if my child was God-gifted. The entire faculty supported, guided and motivated her to reach her full potential. In class 12, Anusha became the Head Girl of the school while in class XI she was the Vice-Head Girl. The school also encourages students to participate in Olympiads. I am happy my younger daughter is also following the footsteps of Anusha.

It seems Apeejay is moulding your children into leaders?
Yes. The selection process for the Prefectorial board is quite a rigorous one. Apart from achievements, the leadership skills of a student are also taken into consideration. A student has to go through a serious interview process just like an adult who sits for a job interview. This is how future leaders are created. Students are ready to hit the ground running after they are out of the school because they have been groomed from the beginning.  

How did the school respond to the pandemic?
I would like to point out the schools’ prompt response to the pandemic. As soon as the lockdown was imposed last year the school realised that physical learning won’t be possible in the near future. Apeejay School, Noida shifted to online education in a jiffy. The transition to online learning was so swift it looked as if the school was already prepared for it. The best part was that the Principal and Vice Principal made it a point to take feedback from parents at regular intervals. The cherry on top was that the school actually implemented suggestions from the parents. The school ensured that online learning didn’t become cumbersome and students kept a positive mindset. Also, when Online learning commenced, the teachers spent the first day inquiring about students and the well-being of their family. It really touched my heart. 

It’s the oldest school in Noida with the best infrastructure. There’s no shortage of open spaces and dearth of playgrounds. Their labs are very good, and the faculty is excellent too. Also, their security is very good. No outsider can step into the school. 

-Dr. Abhijeet Tikkha