‘Apeejay’s vision has been to usher value-based education, existing practices have found resonance in New Education Policy’

At Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg’s Annual Day Celebration, held on December 30, Shri Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Chairman, Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He was accompanied by Shri Rajiv Verma, PCS, Additional Chief Administrator, Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA), who was the Guest of Honour. Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairperson, Apeejay Education, Co-promoter and President, Apeejay Stya & Svran Group, Co-founder and Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University, presided over the function virtually. The grand event was organised to felicitate the school students for their achievements in the academic year 2020-21. 

Chief Guest Shri Mohinder Singh Kaypee mentioned in his address, “Dr Stya Paul, Founder of the Apeejay Education Society and my father, late Darshan Singh Kaypee were good friends. Apeejay school was founded at a time when no private player thought of venturing into the sector…I am delighted to be invited here by the Principal. Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, is one of the premier institutions not just in Jalandhar but the whole of Punjab. The institution has achieved great heights and I hope they continue to do so. Amid Covid, Apeejay started online classes even before the government’s announcement. I would like to thank everyone; I loved all the performances. The mark of a good institution is promoting overall personality development.”

Echoing the thought, Mrs Berlia said, “At Apeejay, education has not just been about academics but about flowering the full potential of a child in every way.” Speaking to the august gathering, she added, “I cannot be at the annual day at the Apeejay school Mahavir Marg without paying homage to the great soul, my father Dr Stya Paul. It was his vision and mission to set up great educational institutions in those days when there were almost none…institutions that helped to develop all dimensions of a child—physical, mental, emotional, and in every way.”

Highlighting the special bond between Shri Mohinder Singh Kaypee and her family, Mrs Berlia remarked, “I am particularly indebted to our honourable Chief Guest. This is your school. You have been with us and for us through the years, with my father and the rest of the family, and have in so many ways been so encouraging in all that we do. Such a gentle soul, a great promoter of art, culture and sports.

“I am also indebted to Shri Rajiv Verma. He has also been very supportive and has done Jalandhar proud by showing us the path towards sustainable goals and environmental consciousness.”

Shri Rajiv Verma, on the other hand, stressed the importance of becoming good citizens and the need for students to exercise their voting rights. He also urged them to make efforts to keep their surroundings and the city clean. “I would like to congratulate everybody for organising such a lovely event,” he said while uplifting the spirit of all students.

The members of the school gathered at the school auditorium to celebrate the event titled ‘Manthan-the journey within’. On the joyous occasion, students showcased their exceptional talent through eclectic performances, comprising mellifluous group songs, graceful dances, and engaging dramas.

The idea of all-round development and acknowledgment of the diverse talents of children was highlighted through the school’s annual report, presented by Principal Girish Kumar, followed by the Head Boy and the Head Girl. The report was testimony to the fact that the students not only ‘soared high’ in academics but also proved their capabilities in extra-curricular activities.

The Principal remarked, “The seed of Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, which was sown 53 years ago by the visionary Dr Stya Paul has blossomed into a gigantic tree. At this juncture, we pledge to honour his ideals…his vision is a constant guiding light…We, at Apeejay, always try to chisel out the best of our children. Our belief in the holistic development of a child gets further strengthened whenever they bring home laurels at various levels of competition in the fields of sciences, robotics, arts, sports, debates, theatre, and music. If their communication moves people, their humility touches hearts.”

At Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, 65 out of 271 students scored 90 per cent and above in the CBSE class 10 board exam. Similarly, in class 12, 49 out of 112 students in the science stream and 68 out of 192 students in the commerce stream scored more than 90 per cent. Of these, five students secured admission in the country’s most reputed medical colleges, while 12 students bagged similar opportunities in the top engineering colleges. Students also secured top positions in the National Talent Search Examination and Atal Tinkering Lab Marathon, among several other such achievements.

Among the biggest achievements internationally was that of Yuvir Raj Aggarwal, who has been selected to be the ambassador from India for promoting chess in the youth and children categories for the Latvian and Bela Russian Chess Association. He participated in the international Kaspersky (Belarusian) Open Online Chess Tournament. He also stood overall fifth in the 49^th GCCA Singapore Standard Rapid Chess Tournament.

Besides, the school organised a virtual cultural exchange programme with four Korean schools despite the obstacles posed by the pandemic. Not to mention the many awards that the school received for their superior quality of education.

The students also won similar laurels in a wide range of competitions including coding challenge, music and dance competitions, national-level one-act play, national chess championship, open national water polo, and swimming championship, and sub-junior table tennis tournament, and many more.

Emphasising how the school braved all pandemic-induced difficulties, Mrs Berlia said, “These have been very tough and challenging times. It has not been easy for our students and more difficult for our teachers. It is very easy to talk about online virtual learning but when you think of the men and women trying to look after their families and being true to the workplace, it is a very difficult experience. And yet we have all come out of all that and are smiling and looking at the journey forward. The one quality that we have exhibited and continue to exhibit is resilience. Failure is normal. The path to success is never a straight line—it is dotted with valleys and peaks. The reason that we continue to remember our late Chairman is not just because he was the inspiration behind the school and colleges, but even in personal life, he exhibited similar qualities and showed how to be happy in success. Overcoming challenges, he moved ahead, dared to dream, and worked with dedication, determination, and focus. He never gave up. If we can imbibe some of these qualities, there is much we can succeed in.”

“At all times, the vision of Apeejay has been to usher value-based education and our existing practices have found huge resonance in the New Education Policy. We not only provided education for our own students but even to others wherever we could reach and felt the need. We are in the process of completely reinventing the curriculum. We are also promoting skill development through various programmes, focused workshops. Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg has carved out an identity of excellence and we have seen that through the awards. I congratulate all those who are going to get prizes today,” she concluded.