Pramod Sharma,
Director cum Principal,
Genesis Global School
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37 years ago, Pramod Sharma began his carrier in education with teaching assignments in Chemistry at The Doon School. After that he also taught in Kabul, Nigeria and later at the Mayo College, Ajmer. He has served as Principal for over two decades in various institutions, including the T N Academy- Gangtok, Yadavindra Public School- Patiala and Mayo College Ajmer. Mayo College was placed among the best two residential schools by various cross country polls during his 13 year tenure as Principal.  |
Share with us the idea from which the concept of Genesis Global School has germinated.
The culture of the holistic residential schools has been brought to Delhi through Genesis School. The residential schools are known for the variety of sporting activities that they provide to children. In this regard, Genesis provides a choice of 21 different sporting activities to the children. Special emphasis is laid on the laying of the surfaces on which these activities are done. The school has turf pitch for cricket, maple wood sprung floor for squash, clay and synthetic courts for tennis. The school has two swimming pools of 50 metres and 25 metres. The school has paid utmost attention to detail so that the sporting facilities provided by the school are of international standards. The school has proper coaches and trainers for teaching all sports activities so that the children learn the right techniques and have a thorough understanding of the sport that they are learning. Various academies in association with the best sporting institutions have been set up in the school. Genesis also employs industry experts to teach all kinds of co-curricular activities to the children.
Please provide us with your opinion on the ways by which ICT is brining benefits to the students and teachers in the school?
The school believes that the teacher cannot be replaced in the schools as she is the provider of education to the children. ICT tools are the medium to help teachers provide better education. The school has smartboards in all classes and content has been taken from various vendors and the best and useful content has been used to deliver education. Genesis also provides an opportunity to students to actively participate in robotics and astronomy activities. The next big change in Genesis will come in the form of usage of tablets in classrooms. The school is all set to replace books with tablets.
Please highlight the Genesis School’s collaborations with foreign schools
The school has collaborations with Clifton School in UK and the Ermitage School in France. The teachers from these schools come to Genesis School and conduct teacher training programmes. Teachers are also sent to these schools so that they can see and learn the working of these schools. The teachers then come back enriched about the methodologies of these institutes. Children are also encouraged to visit these foreign schools. Modern United Nations has also become an important forum where children participate and enrich their knowledge. The school is a member of the Round Square, which is a group of about seventy schools. The children go and participate in various Round Square meetings. Various exchange programmes are set with schools in the USA and Australia under which children from Genesis School visit the schools in these countries to gain vivid experiences.
How much emphasis do you give on training of teachers?
The school is registered for the IGSC and teachers are going through online training conducted by Cambridge University. The teachers fulfil the requirements of the training and submit the assignments online. The teachers then get certifications for this training from Cambridge.
Please throw some light on future Plans of Genesis School
There are four new buildings under construction in the school. A dining hall that can accommodate 1500 children, a six hundred sitting hall for 600 students and a boarding house that can accommodate 500 children in the school will be ready by December 2012. A new junior school is also being constructed separately. There are plans to construct a middle end school in Mohali and another low-end school in Wave City, in Ghaziabad.
How do you see the role of CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) in improving education?
CBSE has done a commendable job in improving education by introducing CCE pattern of evaluation. The pressure of achieving percentages has been relieved and this is something that enables children to enjoy their childhood. The government has implemented RTE but the level of education available in government schools in the rural areas does not provide quality education to children. Only a few schools in metros can help in achieving the quality of education that the government wants the children of this country to have. The government should take their role seriously in providing primary education by ensuring that good quality teachers remain in rural schools.
