Hindustan Times - C fore Top Schools Survey
2012
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
A guide for
hindustantimes EAST DELHI
I
f a road takes too many turns, the best of us get lost. Welcome to Hindustan Times’e-book on Top School Survey 2012, the most credible reference guide on schools. This annual survey, our fourth, done in collaboration with the research agency C fore, is an extensively researched educational product brought out every year that is conducted for Delhi and the National Capital Region with the objective of helping parents negotiate the maze-like, and somewhat confounding, process of choosing, applying and attempting to get their wards admitted to schools in the area. The reports that accompany the Top Ten rankings are published in Hindustan Times. But what is exclusive to the e-book is the ranking of schools vis -vis each of the 14 parameters that we grade schools on. For the first time, we have provided an overall ranking for the region -- one that encompasses schools in all of the Delhi-NCR area: the six zones in Delhi and the adjoining cities of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida. Our Top Schools Survey has also focussed on various issues that affect our schools in the region, be it the new Right to Education law, the plight of government schools or the increasing threat of cyber bullying in schools. That apart, our methodology, modified by our experience of four years, has been further sharpened to give you the best results. Of course, choosing a school for a child is ultimately the decision of parents and guardians and depends on a host of factors. Our aim in this endeavour is to provide you with well-researched qualitative as well as quantitative insights to make that task a bit easier. In case you’ve missed the ongoing survey in Hindustan Times, log on to access the information on the e-book. And, as always, we would encourage you to let us know what you think of it. Your suggestions will help make our annual exercise more meaningful.
r young parents
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
PASSING THE INCLUSION TEST Zehra Kazmi and Paramita Ghosh ■ research@hindustantimes.com
At almost every corner in east Delhi, there is an apartment building and two kilometres away, a private school. Not all schools are well-known, so discerning parents queue to put their children in the area’s biggies – names such as Ahlcon International, Salwan Public School or Amity International, located in Mayur Vihar, a place that is east Delhi’s educational hub, as it were, with 5 of the 10 Top Ten schools in the area. The post-metro and post-CWG east Delhi is still playing catch up, with the bigger educational brands (barring Ryan and Amity) such as Delhi Public School, Modern School or the Shri Ram schools still not a part of the school circuit here. East Delhi’s Top10, however are no less than the Top 10’s in other zones and attract students even from Noida and Ghaziabad. According to the results of the 2012 Hindustan Times - C fore Top Schools survey, Ahlcon International leads by just two points vis-a-vis Salwan in overall score. While Ahlcon International shines in categories such as ‘extra-curricular activities’, ‘competence of teachers’ and ‘value for money’, Salwan is the undisputed leader in ‘academic rigour’,’ ‘sports’ and ‘individual attention to students’. Though it is a good 25 points behind the first two, Ahlcon Public School -- another branch of the Ahlcon brand – stands third, topping in the ‘social accountability’ category and scoring second-highest on the ‘infrastructure and facilities’ parameter. The two DAV branches, in Dayanand Vihar and Sreshtha Vihar are next in line with a difference of a single point. GOOD TEACHERS Ashok K Pandey, principal, Ahlcon International, credited his teachers with the school’s reputation and the effort put into teacher training. “We provide in-service training and in-house production of learning mate-
rials as well. Our teachers turn into resource people as well, developing additional study material for students,” he said. Fifteen Ahlcon International teachers have so far attended programmes abroad while one has won a Fulbright scholarship. The challenges that schools like Ahlcon face are from another quarter. “The government has till now not given any clear-cut commitment on compensation or the reimbursement of funds under the RTE,” added Pandey. For EWS children, the school has made provisions for remedial classes. “Concerns such as whether these kids will bring in a certain kind of language or steal will have to be faced head on without using them as arguments against their inclusion,” said the principal. Most students, per se, have no problems about RTE. But they are sensitive about the question of additional costs to the family. “RTE is our social responsibility. As a society, we should work towards a future where everyone is educated. However, our existing fee structure is quite high. If RTE increases the fees even further, the over-all family budget will be affected,” said Kriti Sharan of Class12, Salwan Public School. About Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE) as prescribed by the CBSE, students are similarly appreciative, but divided in their praise. Palak Gupta, a student of Ahlcon International said CCE should have been introduced “from the beginning or not at all since it hardly takes the pressure off if you introduce in class 9th.” Another student, Vidhushi Sabharwal, said it was “good for average students who could focus on co-curricular activities as academics is not the only thing.” Salwan Public School principal Kiran Mehta, made the same point about CCE saying that “more vocational training should be introduced in schools, to bring out and recognise the latent talents of every child. Every child cannot be an IITian.”
hindustantimes EAST DELHI
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
10
TOP SCHOOLS OF EAST DELHI
1
The 2012 Hindustan Times-C fore Top Schools Survey gave scores to each school across 14 parameters, from academic rigour to sports. Here’s a list of schools ranked in the Top Ten in East Delhi
AHLCON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MAYUR VIHAR
Multimedia computers in each classroom up to primary, an activity centre with complete educational facilities including a language lab for English and German — students have it good here. The school has the highest score in a host of categories, including ‘value for money’, ‘competence of teachers’ and ‘extra curricular activities’. www.ahlconinternational.in
011-47770777
R56,520 per annum
hindustantimes EAST DELHI
2
SALWAN PUBLIC SCHOOL
The school has two well-equipped computer labs, with internet and E-mail facilities, Its Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences & Biology labs are equipped with state-of-the-art equipments.It has topped in ‘sports’, ‘innovative teaching’ and ‘individual attention to students’ categories. spsmayurvihar.com
011-22614169
R31,460 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
3
AHLCON PUBLIC SCHOOL, MAYUR VIHAR
The school library has more than 20,000 books; six science labs; a language lab with 20 stations, 40 sets of head phones and video facilities plus an activity-oriented learning centre. It has the highest score on the ‘social accountability’ parameter, and second highest ‘infrastructure and facilities’ score.
www.ahlconschool.net
011-22750565
R48,360 per annum
hindustantimes EAST DELHI
4
SHAHEED RAJPAL DAV, DAYANAND VIHAR
The campus area of the school is two acres. It has a huge library storing 27,350 books; a 100-seater auditorium and two playgrounds. Other pluses - a gym, cricket ground, karate workshops. The school has the second highest ‘teacher care and development’ & ‘life skills education’ scores. www.davdayanandvihar.net
011-22372300
R51,580 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
5
DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, SRESHTHA VIHAR
The school is equipped with up-to-date science labs, computer labs, art and craft Rooms, music and dance Rooms, a library and reading room and a physical fitness centre. The school has the second highest score in ‘academic rigour’ and does well on ‘value for money’. www.dav-sreshtha.com
011-22144102
R 36,120 per annum
hindustantimes EAST DELHI
6
RYAN INTERNATIONAL, MAYUR VIHAR
This school has sports facilities in every discipline - basketball, netball, football, cricket. It also has many active clubs that focus on activities such as waste management, film making, e-journalism.The school has done well in ‘infrastructure and facilities’ and has the second highest ‘sports’ score. www.ryanmayurvihar.com
011-22612036
R 39, 060 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
7
SOMERVILLE SCHOOL, VASUNDHARA ENCLAVE
The schoool’s clubs help in fostering the creativity of students, beyond academics. Different Clubs offer courses in cooking, embroidery, Taekwondo, Sudoku and contemporary dance.The school has done well in ‘safety and hygiene’, ‘life skills education’ & ‘value system’ parameters. www.somervillevasundhara.in
011-22618178
R 52,100 per annum
hindustantimes EAST DELHI
8
ASN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
A remarkable feature of this school is the state-of-the-art laboratories. The Computer labs have facilities like LCD, OHP, wide-screen TV attachments and cordless make to facilitate effective teaching. The school has done well on the ‘infrastructure and facilities’ and ‘safety and hygiene’ parameters. www.asnschool.in
011-22713040
R 43,530 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
8
AMITY INTERNATIONAL, MAYUR VIHAR*
The school has a library of its own. It has 10,000 books , out of which 2,500 are reference books and encyclopedias. The school also has a spacious playground where students play cricket, basket ball, skate. Tied at eight place, the school has done well in the ‘academic rigour’ & ‘innovative teaching’ categories. www.amity.edu
011-22717261
NOT AVAILABLE
hindustantimes EAST DELHI
10 MOTHER TERESA PUBLIC SCHOOL
The school has a multipurpose hall and the latest apparatus in its science laboratories. The school also hosts regular workshops by nongovernmental organisations. The school scores well in the ‘individual attention to students’ & ‘safety and hygiene’ categories. www.mtps.com
011-22527200
R 35,000 per annum
top schools HINDUSTAN TIMES-C FORE SURVEY 2012
THEY TOO MAKE THE GRADE... VIVEKANANDA SCHOOL The school focuses attention on the girl-child, on curbing child abuse, promoting a polio-free childhood coupled with health and hygiene. Manthan, is a parallel institution run by the school for the economically weaker sections, an example of the school’s commitment to society. The school has been making the effort to merge them into the mainstream by infusing them with self-confidence and knowledge so that they can improve their lot. Yoga sessions form an integral part of the school curriculum.
QUEEN MARY’S SCHOOL This all-girls’ school encourages students to take part in various co-curricular activities to ensure the complete development of the children.
SNEH PUBLIC SCHOOL The school has a beautiful park, vast play fields, a tennis and a volley ball court, a skating rink, a fully equipped computer laboratory, a clay studio, a Music and Dance centre and in-house 100 per cent power backup.
With each school having different strengths, parents have many more names to choose from. Here are some other good options
MAYUR PUBLIC SCHOOL The introduction of smart boards and PowerPoint presentations has enhanced the teaching standards of the school. Subjects full of facts and figures are also taught in an interesting manner with the help of a well-developed social science lab. Students are acquainted with the topography and features of the earth through demonstration of models,maps and other interesting aids.
STAREX INTL SCHOOL The school has strong focus on technology based teaching. On-campus facilities include a six-lane athletics track, a mini golf course, a basketball court, a tennis court, football, cricket and hockey fields which also double up for kho-kho and handball, a swimming pool and an equestrian course for horse riding. Facilities also include a dedicated activity area for students in the primary school. It also offers day, week and full boarding facilities.
hindustantimes EAST DELHI
1 4 3 2 6 8 4 9 6 9
1 2 3 9 7 10 3 3 7 3
3 6 1 2 3 7 5 8 9 10
1 2 3 5 4 6 7 10 7 9
Value for Money
1 4 2 3 8 8 4 10 6 6
Infrastructure and Facilities
2 1 3 4 5 5 10 8 5 9
Parental participation
2 1 3 5 4 9 5 5 9 5
Social Accountability
4 1 6 7 3 2 8 4 9 10
Safety and Hygiene
1 2 3 5 4 7 8 10 6 8
Life Skills Education
5 1 3 5 2 5 10 8 3 9
Value System/ Integration
Individual Attention to Students
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 9 8
Innovative Teaching
Sports
1 3 5 2 3 5 8 9 7 10
ECA
Ahlcon International Salwan Public School Ahlcon Public School DAV, Dayanand Vihar DAV, Sreshta Vihar Ryan International Somerville School ASN Sen Sec School Amity International* Mother Teresa Public School
Academic Rigour
1 2 3 3 5 6 7 8 8 10
Teacher Care and Development
NAME OF SCHOOL
Competence of Teachers
RANK
PARAMETER WISE RANKING OF EAST DELHI SCHOOLS
3 1 2 9 7 4 6 4 10 8
1 2 3 5 3 7 6 9 10 8
Nursery fee figures, provided to HT by the schools, are approximate. They include annual fee and development charges (transport fee is variable). For the total fee amount, please contact the schools. * These schools did not participate in the survey. Their scores are based on the perceptual survey conducted among parents and teachers as mentioned in the methodology. DISCLAIMER :The survey data is a copyright of HT Media Limited, any use of this survey data would lead to infringement of their copyright and may result in legal action against the Infringer.
METHODOLOGY The survey was conducted in three phases. In phase-1, schools were invited to provide information on academic and non-academic facilities, performance of students and profile of teachers. Broadly, Central Delhi is represented by the area falling within the Inner Ring Road. South-East Delhi is separated from South-West Delhi by Aurobindo Marg. Then, research agency C fore shortlisted schools for the second round, in which a perceptual survey was carried out with a sample of 3,000 parents and teachers across the city's six zones. They were asked to assess schools they were aware of on a scale of 10 against 14 parameters. Results of the perceptual survey were combined with objective data from the first round to rank schools. In phase-3, C fore researchers visited the schools to conduct an audit and finalise rankings. Perceptual data scores were extrapolated for schools that did not participate.