Reekrit Serai, Managing Director, Satluj Group of Schools, feels that a huge change in society can be brought through education & innovation and teachers have a significant role to play. Excerpts from a recent interview with BW Education
In the 1960s and 1970s, Late S Pritam Singh Serai, Founder & Chairman, Satluj Group of Schools, was a Professor of Education at top universities in the UK, USA and Singapore. He was invited by the Government of Punjab to open a school in India’s newest city, Chandigarh. Thus, in a one-room rented apartment, with three students, Satluj Public School took birth on the 12 January, 1976. The school grew to 3,000 students until 1979.
Over the next 48 years, Satluj Group of Schools blossomed into an education tradition carried forth by thousands of Satlujians studying in 15 independent, autonomous campuses across North India.
Recently the group was awarded for ‘Academic Excellence in K-12’. “Hardwork, grit, innovation, a relentless focus on imparting quality education to our students and our vision of creating global-minded citizens are some of the facets that have contributed towards our success in this category,” shares Reekrit Serai, Managing Director, Satluj Group of Schools. “It’s a matter of great pride for us to have been bestowed upon this honour,” he adds. Serai applauds the efforts of all schools and education leaders whose collective efforts is helping India in becoming a globally-renowned educational hub.
As communication and building relationships with parents is crucial, Serai states, “We have always keenly worked hand-in-hand with parents for the holistic development of our students.” “We have regular interactions between teachers and parents and a robust feedback mechanism where we take up even the smallest points of concern for the benefit of our students,” he goes on to say.
Serai believes that if school is a temple of education, then the teachers are living Gods. Hence the school constantly strives to empower the teachers by constant trainings, peer assessment and interaction.
Education is the only weapon to bring about change in society and Serai believes in imparting futuristic students so that they stand to compete in a globalised world. This can be done by constant up-skilling and innovation, while developing and encouraging curiosity via applying their academic learnings in real-life settings. “Education isn’t only about including 21st-century skills in students, but showing them how to apply these skills so that they succeed in every endeavour of their lives, all the while focussing on developing a strong moral compass so that they are able to distinguish between what is right or wrong for them without any intervention,” he suggests.
