What should differentiate a Smart School?

By
Dr.Nagulapalli Bhaskara Rao
What is a smart school?
A school cannot become smart in one go in one year or even in
two. And, not because a smart board has been added in its
class rooms. Firstly it is a process and could reach a threshold
level over a couple of years and for that not only teachers,
community leaders and parents have to work together but even
more functionaries of education dept have to facilitate and work
in tandem and as a network. Certain contradictions in existing
policies need to be attended. Exceptions are of course possible
because of extraordinary individual headmasters or individual
teachers. There are good examples for that. But smart schools
cannot remain smart in isolation for long. The ones on way or
already need to be showcased for their good practices and
initiatives. Scaling up is possible only then. Being smart at a point
does not mean that a school remains smart. The endeavor has to
be on going.
A "smart school" stands out distinct not only for its academic
accomplishments but also for its role in moulding concerned
citizens of tomorrow and by offering foundational opportunities
for a knowledge society. A smart school is the one which brews
healthy minds and healthy bodies and prepares ground for a
harmonious society. Its focus of course is class room but area of
concern should also be community around. A Smart school offers
equal opportunity. It does not deprive any child or differentiate
admission because of affordability or on any other excuse.
Instead, smart school makes special efforts to reach out
otherwise deprived children and even offers them special
guidance.
Academic accomplishments
Seven fundamentals of a smart school and to remain smart
include.

A smart school ensures, firstly, hundred percent enrollment of

children in and around the community, in particular the girls and
cutting across the local socio economic barriers. Secondly, a proof
of pudding indicator is attendance and zero drop out of the
enrolled. Thirdly, learning outcomes In terms of fundamentals of
basic subjects. Fourthly, smart school is the one where teacher
student ratio is within the acceptable limits. Fifth, the
infrastructure that the school has in terms of class rooms with
space and teaching-learning aids. It should have arrangement for
games and school library with reading period provided. Sixth,
smart school is not possible without active parents and
community linkage and involvement of local leaders. And, seven,
constant efforts being made to adopt teaching methods towards
unleashing creative talents in children individually.
Moulding citizens of tomorrow
A mart school should be sensitive to different communities
around and environment and ecology. For example exposure of
school children to water sources around, sanitation situation,
greenery and its significance. As children move up in classes their
concern to socio economic and cultural realities of the
neighborhood should increase to the extent of knowing why or
how conflicts and controversies continue. Eventually they have to
acquire a futures outlook looking beyond that year or that class
and that school. Students of smart schools eventually should also
be able to envision their own options before leaving a school.
Foundation for a Knowledge society
A smart school should also be a life learning place for the young
with abilities to discriminate good and bad or undesirable from
desirable in given situations and contexts. Smart school should
encourage and also facilitate inquisitiveness in young minds to
know more, much more than limited to the school syllabus. This
obviously calls for children of the school reading for general
knowledge and getting exposed to new technologies for a holistic
outlook. They should be encouraged discussions and debates and
the like inside class room and outside. A book and audio visual
library in school is a nucleus for that.

Discipline and human values

A smart school is the one which distinguishes by way of its
students behavior patterns not only in the school with each other
and teachers but outside as well. They display basic human
values like respect to elders and professions, elements of nature,
and positive and sportive outlook. They should be able to sing
and play together and become sensitive to the merits of
harmonious living and life styles. They should be able to take
decisions and cope with risks.
No village can expect to be smart and remain so without first
having a smart school. No school can expect to become smart
simply because a smart board has been installed in some class
rooms. (In many schools computers installed remain defunct or
unused). Attention should be on actual use of a variety of
interactive teaching aids and concern should be more on
outcomes.