‘I would never change my children’s school unless we shifted from Jalandhar’

“Most people reading this interview would feel that I was exaggerating when I say that Apeejay schools are the best. But this is a fact. I have been a principal of an IB school in Jalandhar, and only recently resigned and I know how Apeejay schools are different and stand apart from others,” Ashita Sharma said.

In a candid interview, the mother of two students – Ananya (class IX) and Vidur (Nursery) – who study at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg talks about how knowledge can be gained from any school, but it is the overall development that matters today.

How and why did you choose Apeejay for your children?

There was no way that my children would have studied in another school. Two generations in my family have studied at Apeejay. I too am an alumna of Apeejay – I have studied at the Model Town and Mahavir Marg branches. My sister has been working at Apeejay for the last 20 years. My brother, who is now working with Google in the US, has also studied at Apeejay. It was a foregone conclusion that my daughter would study at Apeejay as well. Now that my son is old enough to go to school, he too is in Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg.

You were a principal at another school. Why did your children not study there?

Any good school can teach a child A, B, C, and D but the need of the hour is to have an overall development. A child should know everything. Just bookish learning is not good enough for me. I am well-versed in the teaching methodology at Apeejay and wanted that for my kids.

What is the teaching methodology?

The way the teachers teach my daughter is very different and I am a big fan of this. Let me give you an example. I know of parents whose child is going for tuition even though he/she is in the nursery. My daughter, Ananya who is in class IX has never taken any extra tuition. That is how a teacher must conduct a class – the student should understand what is being taught. What is the point of a student going to another teacher to learn the same thing?

Now that the exams are around the corner, the teachers have been taking assessment tests for the last month. The child doesn’t need to be pushed to study; they know that they have to study for the test. This is how teachers at Apeejay prepare their students.

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Any good school can teach a child A, B, C, and D but the need of the hour is to have an overall development. A child should know everything. I am well-versed in the teaching methodology at Apeejay and wanted that for my kids

–Ashita Sharma, Mother of Students who study at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg

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Was the same methodology adopted during two years of lockdown during COVID-19?

Absolutely. During the two years that the education was online, Ananya had no problems in understanding what was being taught. I am not the kind of mother who pushes their child to score 100. My daughter studies on her own and gets 90-plus. I am happy with this.

What does education mean to you?

What I want my children to learn is the concepts so that these can be applied whenever needed. In rote learning, the child will forget; what is the point of this education? I will cite my example. I was an average student but have done well for myself. A good teacher makes all the difference. My daughter loves the way Sukhpal Singh sir (Geography) teaches. I too have been taught by him. The way he teaches the chapters is amazing, a student ends up having their concepts clear.

Do you recommend Apeejay to other parents?

When I was the principal of another school, I always highlighted the good points of my school. But when it comes to personal opinion I always tell other parents to send their kids to Apeejay. And of all the Jalandhar branches, Apeejay School at Mahavir Marg is my favourite.