'Government Should Let Boarding Schools Function Without Bringing In Too Many Regulations'

What must a parent look for in a residential school?

I am aware that sending a child to a boarding school is a very big decision for any parent. While there are what we call legacy boarding schools in India, the last 20 years or so we have witnessed the mushrooming of quite a few impressive boarding schools. In my view, a parent should thoroughly investigate the credentials of a boarding school based on the following three parameters: academic reputation, infrastructure and facilities, and pastoral care. A parent should first identify the reason for sending their child to a boarding school. The shortlisting of schools can be done based on what one wants (co - ed or single sex, religious or secular, national curriculum or international curriculum, etc.) Having said this, I feel that there is nothing better than visiting the shortlisted schools with the child.

Sexual Abuse, loneliness, safety, health measures, psychological tortures, distancing from parents are some of the innumerable apprehensions of a parent when s/he thinks of admitting his/her child to a residential school. Do these myths still hold good?

Looking at what is happening around the country, I can safely vouch that boarding schools are much safer than a day school or in some cases, even home. Given the nature of jobs of both the parents and emergence of nuclear families, it is difficult to monitor the lifestyle of a child these days. As a result, the child may fall prey to the evils of social media, poor eating habits etc. But a child in a boarding school is away from all this and enjoys everything in moderation and supervision. If you pay attention to the data closely, you will see that many cases of sexual abuse happen at home. So, it’s a myth that students are not safe in a boarding school.

Discipline, safety, psychological balance is a problem that every residential school grapples with. Your comments? What do you think?

Not necessarily. It’s a myth that day-school students are more disciplined than boarding-school-students. The life of a student is highly regulated and monitored at a boarding school. Right from morning till lights out at night, it is by the clock. They are more responsible and focused about things and look after each other well.  The camaraderie that they build in a boarding school lasts for a lifetime and they make friends that they can bank upon for support. If the boundaries and consequences are well defined, most of the students will respect that line.

What are the effects of the new Bills and policies on residential schools- regulation of fees, franchise, etc.?

The government should let boarding schools function without bringing in too many regulations. A boarding school is always heavy on the wallet, given the kind of services and support they provide to children. If somebody invests crores of rupees in establishing a boarding school, then it’s not just a charity for the society. Salaries must be paid, loans have to be cleared, bills have to be cleared on time, and the maintenance cost is high as well.

How do you increase confidence of parents who are stationed far away from their children?

We make every student do a goal-setting exercise every year and share it with their parents. Parents are connected to school through ERP, social media and regular contacts with housemasters and teachers over phones and through mail.