‘My son figured out his career path at this school’

By considering school as a second home, educators and parents recognise the holistic needs of children. “It emphasises the importance of creating supportive, nurturing, and inclusive learning environments where children can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically,” shares Dr Rajaram Dighe whose son Rajwardhan is studying in class XI at Apeejay School, Nerul.

Excerpts from the interview

Why did you select Apeejay for your son?

We have been residing in Nerul for the last 15 years. My son was born in Mumbai and when it was time for us to look for a good school for him, Apeejay was the choice we made immediately. The reason is that it is the most renowned school in the city. Another factor that influenced our decision was the proximity of this school to our home.

What are your son’s dreams and aspirations?

He wants to pursue computer engineering moving forward and has been planning his way towards that now. He wants to get into IIT and for that, he is preparing for JEE too. Following this, my son has picked PCM with Computer Science.

How are the teachers here?

We have interacted with almost all the teachers here starting from the class teacher to the subject teacher and even with the principal. They have all been extremely supportive at different times for my son. I feel they have been of great help in my son’s progress so far.

Is there ever any pressure regarding exams on you and him?

Never. My son is very clear in his head concerning his studies. He has always been a topper since class I and performs well in academics. He has been getting around 90 percent every year so there is no reason to be stressed or feel pressure.

Define your parenting mantra.

We believe in guiding our children but we also encourage our children to take their own decisions in life and move ahead with them. Good or bad both kinds of decisions will have their implications and learnings. Especially during exams, we prepare our child and make him practice enough sample papers and get help from the teachers to understand my son’s weak and strong areas.

How much do you agree with the adage – that school is the second home for a child?

It’s correct. My son spends seven to eight hours of the day at school and cumulatively they form a big chunk out of his years of life. School and teachers are definitely like second parents to my son and they have equally stood by him in times of need and distress.

What kinds of extracurricular activities is your son interested in?

He has been actively involved in various co-curricular activities like news reading, cricket, badminton, and volleyball. I am glad that my son has inculcated the healthy habit of taking part in such activities along with academics which will go a long way in his holistic development.