‘Thanks to Apeejay, my 5-year old can fluently read a story book’

Dr. Shailly Anand is an Assistant Professor, Dept. of Zoology, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi while her spouse, Dr. PC Ashwin Kumar, is Associate Dean, Infrastructure, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. They are proud parents of P Swaradhya, who is studying in KG, Apeejay School – Pitampura. In an informal chat, Dr. Shailly explains how despite the limitations of online learning there exists a consecrated bonding between the teacher and the students.

Why did you choose Apeejay for Swaradhya?

When it comes to education, every parent wants the best for their child and nursery admissions are no exception. We had zeroed in on a couple of schools, but Apeejay was our top pick. After doing a thorough online research and consulting numerous other parents, we found that Apeejay ticked all the right boxes. In our research we also came to know that Apeejay alumni are placed in prominent institutions of India. It shows Apeejay is helping students build a strong foundation.

Swaradhya has been with the school for almost two years now. Tell us about her progress.

I could have never taught Swaradhya the way the teachers of Apeejay have educated her so far. I couldn’t be happier. She was adjudged ‘Student of the year’ in Nursery. I appreciate that teachers encourage kids to converse in English and teach them pronunciation techniques. As a result, Swaradhya’s reading comprehension skills have improved drastically. She is in KG but can easily read full sentences in English. You give her a story book and she will read it aloud. She has even started reading comic books and can chat with her father on WhatsApp. It’s surprising for us to see a 5-and-a-half-year-old being so fluent with the language. Teachers deserve all the credit for it.  Students are also given ample opportunities through extracurricular activities to express and hone their talent. The teachers have also made virtual learning exciting and engaging by using hands-on activities to teach topics such as ‘Sense organs’, ‘Day & Night’, ‘Colours’, ‘Light’, ‘Water’, etc. That’s why, even in online learning there’s a strong teacher-student bond.

Tell us why a healthy teacher-student bond is crucial for learning?

A healthy teacher-student bond enables effective learning and plays a crucial role in the holistic development of students. Let me share an anecdote with you. Some time back, I went to school along with Swaradhya to pick her uniform. Swaradhya expressed the desire to meet her Nursery class teacher, Ms. Shailja Tyagi. We enquired at the reception and came to know that Ms. Shailja was present in the school. Hearing that, Swaradhya ran towards Ms. Shailja’s room and upon finding her hugged her tightly. She didn’t let her go for 5 minutes. This shows the deep connection Swaradhya has with her teachers. Learning is the outcome of that bonding.

Please share with us your most memorable moment.

It’s concerning Swaradhya’s class teacher, Ms. Yogita Soni. She religiously prepares placards to make topics fun and exciting for little ones. She has been doing this all year around. Impressed by her efforts, Swaradhya, during an online class, said to Ms. Yogita, “Ma’am, you work so hard for us.” Ms. Yogita on hearing the compliment was moved to tears. Being a teacher myself, I found the moment really touching.