Quality education secret of Pallavi success

The Principal of Pallavi International School (PIS) Gandipet, Nidhi Gera, M Com, MBA and B Ed who studied at Delhi University, started her career as a lecturer in an engineering college and got opportunity to work with International Schools as Academic Coordinator and Head Mistress, Vice Principal and now for the latest branch as a Principal of Pallavi International School.

Importance of Gandipet campus'?

This is the first year of School at sprawling Gandipet campus with 18 acres. With 200 students now, it is forecasted that 500 to 700 students will be enrolled by next year. Pallavi has more than two decades of experience in this industry and with the brand name parents are sending their children due to the trust it generates.

Similar schools have very high fee structure. We are offering extra-curricular activities and sports like skating, swimming pool, basket ball and archery, badminton, karate and lawn tennis. Our chairman M Komariah's vision is to provide good quality of education to students, rather asking for high fees. Because of this, we have about 20,000 students enrolled with us at different branches, which include the Delhi Public School branches.

Pallavi has six branches, the first one being Bowenpally branch which was started about 25 years back, Alwal, Boduppal, Saroornagar, Tivoli and now Gandipet. We have digital curriculum for pre-primary also and even our school lot of support from old branches.

What is your speciality?

In the beginning we start with CBSE curriculum, after two to three years if parents demand for international boards we focus on that also. With special focus on activity based learning, all the Principals from different branches sit together and plan to the curriculum, besides activity based learning. Every lesson is based on activity learning. Children should also be made to learn 'life skills', since they must be emotionally balanced if they go for hostels.

Corporate schools and fees structures by schools, parents are pushed to the brink as they are now seen taking bank loans, which is lot of burden?

All the children are same, only the thing is how you bring them up. They have similar thoughts. Even if you make them feel comfortable now, they have to face the harsh future. We have to prepare them for that. Hence we do not compare fees structure with other schools with similar activities and remains reasonable. Education should ensure the overall growth and to prepare to face the challenges of world, to become citizen and good human.

What's your take on suicides due to pressure?

We do not burden the children and life skills imparted here makes them learn that failure is a part of life. If you appear for exam or competition the result must not matter. What you learn from does matter. We are transforming the children to explore various opportunities in life. Every person is born with a talent, which should be identified. Education and results are not everything. We also wish to utilise the huge campus, including making children learn gardening and studies in Gurukul style.