Modern centres of innovation, excellence

NEW DELHI: Think of an era gone by. Think of the institution of learning - education, and you get an ideal image. An image which is sacrosanct - a blackboard, some chalk, and a group of students being taught by the reverend masterji.
Cut to the present and this is what you get - swanky computer labs, hi-tech audio-visual centres and air-conditioned school buses that spell luxury with a capital ''L''.Public schools in Delhi certainly seem to have come a long way.
As facilities being provided become directly proportional to the moolah parents can dish out, the concept of school and education itself seems to be undergoing a change. Managing schools today requires tools of modern management and high degree of professionalism.
"In order to excel, an institution requires a set of ethos, leadership, and sharp focus," says managing trustee, Modern School trust, Ashok Pratap Singh.
Call them "big brands" or "elite tags", institutions like the Delhi Public Schools, Modern School, Amity, Springdales, and Apeejay are among the most sought after student destinations in Delhi today.
Common charecteristics include several branches under the parent society, good academic records, and a range of co-curricular activities offered to students. However, when it comes to ethos and core philosophy, each brand has its own character.
What is it that makes these institutions stand out from the rest? How dominant is management''s function and what is the principal''s role? What do the these schools have to say about commercialisation of education and what do they perceive will the road ahead be like?
The Times of India speaks to some top level school managers on their institution and the changing paradigms of education.
Role of school management
Narendra Kumar, Chairman, DPS Society: A strong management is vital for the school system to function in a smooth manner. Management also need to ensure harmony between various stake holders like principals, teachers, parents and students.
Ashok Pratap Singh, Managing Trustee, Modern School Trust: A strong central leadership is vital to give focus and direction to each school. Management must also be clear of its objectives and ethos.
Amita Chauhan, Chairperson, Amity International Schools: Setting forth a vision for all schools and giving them direction is the most important task of a management.
Rajni Kumar, Chairperson, Springdales Education Society: Apart from defining the educational society''s mission, managing relationships is one of the most important tasks before school managements.
Sushma Berlia, Vice President, Apeejay Education Society: The management''s prime focus is on successfully implementing the vision set forth for an institution by its founders.
Principal vs management: Who prevails?
Ashok Pratap Singh: A principal''s personality has a significant impact on the school. The management must try and make them understand their vision, which (s)he can combine with their own zeal to lead.
Narendra Kumar: Principals have full academic freedom, but when it comes to policy, management prevails. A clash, however can easily be avoided by open discussion.
Amita Chauhan: Whatever is best for our children will always prevail, irrespective of whether it has been proposed by management or principal.
Rajni Kumar: A principal must be given absolute academic freedom tempered with accountability.
The role of marketing in school management
Amita Chauhan: People are brand conscious and there is no harm in letting people know about an institution''s USP. Only excellence can survive in the long run.
Narendra Kumar: Branding can attract students initially, but an institution has to sustain itself on quality which speaks for itself.
Sushma Berlia: It is important to market the key attributes of your institution. Commercialisation
Rajni Kumar: Plush carpeted class rooms, and air conditioned buses that drape curtains over reality are not something we believe in. This isolates students from the real world.
Ashok Pratap Singh: It is rightly said the better you run a school, the lesser chances you have to make money. Obviously if one packs in 50 students in a class, pay teachers half the amount they are due, and not bother about infrastructure, he would make money. But we are here to pursue excellence and give back something to the society, not for monetary gains.
Narendra Kumar: How much tuition fees a school charge is not the issue. Whether or not one is getting value for that money is the key concern.
Reservation for underprivileged sections
Ashok Pratap Singh: Reservations are fine as long as they are tempered with merit.
Narendra Kumar: Quality education is every child''s right and every responsible institution knows its duty towards society. The quota system, however needs careful implementation else it may lead to psychological complexes in children.
Rajni Kumar: Springdales has been incorporating 30 students from MCD schools in the mainstream every year for the past 20 years.