Academic Results Vs Holistic Development: What’s Better?

Aligning with the parents’ demand, schools are competing with each other to produce excellent students but often lack arming a student with a well-rounded development so that he/she could face the future with confidence and knowledge. 

Discussing the somewhat intertwined theme, an esteemed panel comprising of the best of minds governing their respective schools across India got together to brainstorm and share their perspectives. 

Taking part in the discussion were Mamta Saikia, CEO of Bharti Foundation, Uttara Singh, Director - Principal of The Shriram Millennium School, Noida, Manju Gupta, Principal of Kothari International School, Noida, Jasjit Kaur Sood, Principal, OPS Vidya Mandir Karnal and Harinder Chhabra, Director of The Infinity School.

The panel agreed that a lot of talks and discussions have happened on this topic which, many agreed, was interconnected in more ways than one. "In a way, academic results are a part of holistic development," said Uttara Singh, Director - Principal, The Shriram Millenium School, NOIDA. "To facilitate this and see a combined effect of good academic results with holistic development, The Shriram Millenium School is focusing on Social and Adversity Quotient (SQ and AQ). It is helping the students to prepare for future and handle situations," Singh explained.

J K Sood, Principal, OPS Vidya Mandir, Karnal said the academic results are part and parcel of the overall holistic development of a student. “Academic result is a sub-set of holistic development. It is the Principal’s job to keep on empowering development both in teachers and students," said Sood.

Manju Gupta, Principal of Kothari International School, Noida highlighted the linkage between fast-paced changing technology and education and their combined role in helping the students excel both academically and holistically. "Schools needed to catch up with the technological advancements as they work towards skill development in students. There is also the need to get out of a traditional type of schooling," Gupta said making her point in supporting technology.

Harinder Chhabra, Director of The Infinity School said that in the race of education and 'scoring the perfect score', students were missing out on their own development. "On the other hand, Indian schools are struggling to convince parents about the importance of holistic development," he said sharing his own experience as a parent where he has been explained and shown results of implications of holistic development in his child’s school. "It has convinced me to support the approach of holistic learning as it leads to a better outcome," said Chhabra.

Concluding the discussion Mamta Saikia, CEO of Bharti Foundation talked about the linkage between a school and the society for the student. “A child not only experiences school but the society as it defines their growth in a holistic manner,” Saikia said.