One of the most important decision as a parent is choosing the right school for your child as it shapes their academic career and also their personal growth. Providing a good education is a stepping stone of a bright and optimistic future for a child. The skills and values that you learn in school remain with you for the rest of your life. School plays a very important role in a child’s life as it is considered as a second home to the child. A good education is the building block for a strong personality and character. Thus it becomes all the more important to provide a good school for your child.
To provide a holistic development of your child what are the factors you must consider in a school. Lets break it down.
Academic Curriculum
While deciding on a school consider the academic record of the school and the Board of Education. Choose the board which matches to your child’s needs and preferences. The academic record can easily tell about the quality of the school. Analyze and keep record of the past board exam results and faculty qualification. Check the schools students achievements in the last few years to get an idea.
A good school will have a well defined academic curriculum. The students will acquire skills like critical thinking and problem solving abilities . Students will acquire strong foundation in subjects like Math’s, Science, and Literature. Schools which have experienced teachers will have innovative teaching methods.
Safety
Safety of your child is of outmost priority. Always look into this while selecting the school. If the school cant ensure safety of your child then any academic success of the school is of no use. Make sure that you examine the safety and security measures which are implemented in the school and how effective they are. Always ask what policies and facilities does the school have in case of any emergencies. Does the school have proper security measures like security officers and CCTV cameras in the campus. Does the school personnel undergo any background checks and does the school keep a check on who picks the child from the school or bus stops.
Always visit the campus first and check for the major facilities like laboratories should be well quipped, is there a good space for extra curricular activities. Your child should feel safe when in school as they spend most of their time there. Always check properly the schools protection measures against harassment and bullying and what measures do they take in case of any unforeseen events.
Faculty
When deciding on a school always check about the teachers and faculty of the school. A good school will have highly experienced teachers. The good teacher is always instrumental in shaping a good foundation of the students. A good faculty will have more innovative ways of teaching which will help the child to learn better and eventually perform better. Look into their methods of instructions and check if leaning is through projects, debates and field excursions.
A good educator will engage with students, motivate them and make learning more fun and relevant. Parents should also check about the homework policies the school so it helps to balance the academic load.
Infrastructure
While deciding on a school always do a school tour and check the infrastructure. A good school will facilities up to date and will invest in state of the art infrastructure. It will have a well equipped classrooms, smart boards, modern science labs , computer labs, sport facilities and art studios. Students should have access to all the tools and resources for a holistic development.
In todays times schools need to be technologically advanced. Schools should have technological integration even with their learning. Digital learning platforms and access to various online resources for studying should be readily available by the school.
School Ethics and Values
A good school will always have strong values and ethics. It will have strong emphasis on values, honesty, kindness and integrity. Always check if the schools value system is aligned with your values which you instill in your child at home. School should believe in value based education where not just good education but also shaping the character of the child is given equal importance.
By having culture of respect and inclusivity it will prepare the child to be responsible, disciplined, collaborative, ethical individuals who contribute positively to the society. Schools which follow community services programs, leadership programs encourage the students to think beyond themselves and make a difference around them. A schools environment plays a crucial role in all of the above and treats their students with love and respect.
Teacher to Student Ratio
In todays times it is important for the teachers to be able to give personalized attention to each student. While deciding the school always check the student teacher ratio of the class. Smaller sizes of the class ensures that the teacher is able to give individual attention to the students and give them extra support where ever necessary. This also helps the students as they feel more comfortable with the teachers and are able to ask their doubts and engage in discussions leading to more understanding of the subjects.
The teachers are also able to recognize each students learning capabilities and help the students with different teaching styles and speeds. This individual attention approach helps the teachers to understand each students strengths and weaknesses to each students and help them to succeed in their academics.
Holistic Development
Always check when deciding the school that along with academics the school also emphasizes on extracurricular exposure. There should be availability of sports, drama, music, arts, dance and other leadership programs. A good school will provide holistic development of the child including physical, social and emotional growth. This helps the students to get an overall growth. School should provide students with educational trips, interschool competitions, artistic and sports events for a bright and broader learning experience.
By encouraging the students to participate in extracurricular activities it builds confidence and discipline in them. They learn how to work in a team and get along with other students in the process and also improve their communication skills. It further helps them to develop self esteem and resilience to be better human beings in life .
Distance
While deciding on to a school always at the location and distance from home aspect . with the growing traffic you would not want your child to be completely drained out by the time they reach back from school. The school should not be located very far from home. incase the school is far away then make sure the school provides a good transportation facility and the child should feel comfortable while travelling and not worn out while going and coming back from school.
A school selected closer to home gives ample time to the child to rest and enjoy the rest of the day with family and other activities. There is no travel stress and also convenient for the parents to head to school easily when required and be available.
Fees
A very important thing to consider when deciding on to a school is the Fee structure. Always keep in mind that apart from the education fee there will be additional costs throughout the year. There will be transportation cost, additional trip costs, class projects costs and so on . When determining the budget take all these aspects as well in consideration. There are also fee hikes on an yearly basis in most of the schools. Check the same with the school before finalizing the school. Always select a school where you can give the fees regularly without any financial burden.
Alumni Network
Track record of the schools academic and extracurricular achievements shows its overall quality. A good school will continuously produce high achieving students in various fields. Parents should look into the schools history of results, how well the students have fared academically and in extra curricular activities and the success of their alumni in various fields.
If possible try and get in touch with the school alumni or the parents of students who are currently studying in the school to learn about their experiences and thoughts about the school. Collecting information directly from the parents and students of the particular school helps alot in making more informed decisions.
Conclusion
Choosing a good school for your child is definitely a very critical task but if you list down your requirements carefully it can become a little easier. Always consider the above mentioned points while the various schools before finalizing one. A right school will make your child confident and will lead to personal and professional growth in life.