Presentation given by Nalini Chandran, Director, The Sobha Academy on July 15,2011 at WORLD EDUCATION SUMMIT (www.worldeducationsummit.net) in the School Education Track: SCHOOL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP CONCLAVE: BUILDING VISIONARy SCHOOLS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

1. A “5 star” School for those with stars in their eyes and space in their stomachs - A school exclusively for the BPL class. (BPL = Below Poverty Line)

2. THE SOBHA ACADEMY At Panniyankara, Palakkad Dist., Kerala

3. GOING AROUND THE SCHOOL

4. EXTERIORS

5. INTERIORS

6. CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS This is how our toilets are expected to look 365 days a year.

7. OUR NOTICE BOARDS

8. THE SOBHA FAMILY Head of the Family

9. An angel to manyMUTTHASSHAN (grandfather) to us…

10. Senior Citizens at the SOBHA HERMITAGE

11. Young Mothers Young widows and their children adopted by the Sobha Hermitage. Their children are educated at The Sobha Academy. These young women are encouraged to pursue their studies and are trained to become useful in the school.

12. Director of the Academy, Mrs. NaliniChandran and Vice-Principal, Mrs. JayasreeParameswaran

13. and of course, the children and the teachers.

14. What makes the School stand out the most deserving are short-listed after a survey the final 90 are selected on lots drawn by children in front of the parents once selected, they are almost adopted food, transportation, uniform, under garments, footwear, stationery and health care are all provided FREE they are even given vacation ration

15. SELECTION PROCESS Fair and just. It’s done through lots picked by children.

16. FOOD The children are given three meals a day – a balanced breakfast, a complete lunch and a glass of milk with snacks before they leave.

17. Now that my stomach’s silent,I can think of learning things.

18. UNIFORM, UNDER GARMENTS & FOOTWEAR Each child is given 3 pairs of uniform, 6 sets of undergarments and 2 pairs of footwear.

19. DISTRIBUTION OF VACATION KITS

20. REGULAR HEALTH CHECK UP Regular health checks and necessary treatment is given FREE to the student and his/ her immediate family.

21. ACADEMICS – How we deal with it

22. Many of our students are first generation school-goers. We can expect no help from home. In-take of students is not based on their/ their parents’ academic abilities. Teaching, exercise and revision are all done by the teachers and the class helpers.

23. The class helper helps the teacher to maintain neat work. She also helps the children with extra exercise and revision.

24. NOTE BOOKS Note books are covered in different colours to make them attractive as well as to help the child identify them easily.

25. FRIDAY MATHS Work taught through a week is assessed on Fridays. If the overall performance of the class is found wanting, the same topic will be dealt with the following week.

26. HANDWRITING NEATNESS is given top priority in both the Teacher’s as well as the Child’s work.

27. Children are taught to write in a single lined book. The traditional 4 lined/ 2 lined books are not used.

28. Print writing is followedtill Class 2 in order to give a thorough base on letter formation and neatness.

29. Cursive Writing is introduced in Class 3.

30. Each lesson in the note book will be followed by a picture associated with it done by the child himself.

31. ASSESSMENTS regular assessments are held spelling and orals are part of every subject assessed speeches, recitation, extempore talks etc., are also part of assessment the assessment for each month is done in bits and pieces rather than a 1 hour paper

32. ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

33. THE SCHOOL ASSEMBLY a 45 minute session concentrates on group singing, spoken English and value education

34. HUMOUR plays an important role during the assembly.

35. CELEBRATIONS Every celebration is handled with great responsibility emphasising the culture and heritage of our great country. Members of the staff and parents participate in such events, projecting the Oneness in India.

36. PARENTS – A PART OF THE SCHOOL Parents perform at a School function.

37. Teachers in Action

38. Every member at the Academy participates – from the Director to the gardener.

39. JUGALBANDI Senior citizens from the Hermitage dress up for Mile Sur MeraTumhara….. at the Independence Day Celebrations.

40. DURGA POOJA CELEBRATION Vice-Principal leading the DurgaPooja Celebrations Bhajans: Group Singing led by teachers

41. Reviving the Guru – Shishya relationshipAcharyaDevoBhava….. Taking blessings of teachers on the occasion of DurgaPooja

42. CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS Every festival is celebrated with the same spirit.

43. CHRISTMAS CHOIR Teachers and children sing together.

44. ONE INDIA The senior-most at the Hermitage hoists the flag on Independence Day.

45. REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATION The day is marked with mass performances by over a hundred children in each event.

49. ANNUAL DAY CELEBRATION

52. The Sobha Academy Culture

53. ONE GOD… ONE RELIGION Children are discouraged from wearing signs of religion. They all appear as just Indians.

54. Attention to what matters Art, craft, music, dance and other performing arts are given great importance.

55. ART & CRAFT

56. PERFORMING ARTS

57. MUSIC The School choir with the Music Teacher, Mr. Jose

58. DANCE

59. FUN

60. AthithiDevoBhava… The Academy is visited by numerous VIPs from every field. They are treated

61. ..to a sumptuous meal of children’s performances and…

62. … the SOBHA HUG

63. Where we are heading Towards a jubilant India where poverty does not mean disadvantage or backwardness, where children emerge with their heads held high.