More students are leaving Mumbai after Class 10 to study in residential schools, in search of disciplined environments that give them room to explore and discover what they want

More students are leaving Mumbai after Class 10 to study in residential schools, in search of disciplined environments that give them room to explore and discover what they want
Kewal ramani, a baker from Peddar Road, decided Mumbai's junior college education Vacation was too narrow-minded for her daughter, and instead sent her to a boarding school that follows the IB curriculum in Bangalore.


“The stress levels in Mumbai are too high and the system is so peer pressure-driven that students have lost trust in themselves to study without tuitions,“ she says.
Kewalramani is part of an increasing number of Mumbai-based families that choose to send their children to boarding schools with large campuses outside the city after Class 10. At the Cathedral Vidya School in Lonavla, for instance, the number of applications has increased two-fold from its inception in 2008, and their IB programme might accept 60 students instead of 40 this year, because of the high demand.
In Maharashtra itself, there were approximately 32 residential schools in 2000, a number that has now gone up to 60, according to data from Parthenon group, a consultancy firm. The India First Foundation School (IFFS) in Karjat has seen applications rise from 1,000 to 2,000 in the last two years, while at the Anubhuti School in Jalgaon, applications increased by 20%.

“Mumbai students face so many distractions, with mobile phones, the internet, social obligations and even time wasted in commuting between home and school,“ says Snehal Joshi, IB coordinator, Cathedral Vidya School. “In a residential setup, students have the space and time to fully acknowledge their studies, which is essential for programmes as demanding as the IB.“
Residential schools also allow students to dissociate from the `noise' that city schools are burdened with, in terms of peer pressure, image issues and a general frustration from competitiveness, say experts.
At most of these schools, students are not allowed access to social networks and spend more time discovering themselves, making use of the vast campuses and facilities available, in a focussed environment. focussed environment.
TALK TO US Are you considering a residential school to study in after Class 10? Let us know why or why not.
Share your views on our Facebook page: HT Education Mumbai or send us an email on letters@hindustantimes.com Rishi Valley School aims to embody philosopher J Krishnamurti's educational beliefs, which emphasise learning through nature, art and have the student explore inward and outward.
Certification: ISC Facilities: An arts and crafts department that includes pottery, batik and carpentry, music and dance studios, sports facilities for cricket, tennis, football, badminton and throwball. Bird-watching is a regular activity.
USP: The subjects offered for the `Plus two programme' include environmental studies, Carnatic music and Hindi and Telugu literature.
Website: www.rishivalley.org United World College, Pune The United World Colleges (UWC) network is a Britishbased foundation to unite cultures through education.
There are 13 UWC institutes across five continents. The Pune campus is spread across 150 acres. “We are not your typical residential school where students follow a totally planned schedule,“ says Cyrus Vakil, head of studies. “We're looking for self-motivated, independent students who will make best use of their time themselves.“ USP: Less than 40% of the student population is Indian.
In the current 2012-13 batch, the students represent 56 countries.
Certification: IB diploma Facilities: Art studio, music centre, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court, volleyball, football and cricket areas, and a 30-acre biodiversity reserve with flora and fauna observation areas.
Website: www.uwcmahindracollege.org The International School Bangalore (TISB) TISB lays emphasis on disciplined learning and research.
Students follow a tight schedule, from a 5.30 am wake up call to 11 pm bedtime, and are encouraged to play sports and cultivate hobbies in addition to academics. Children go home once every six weeks for about a week.
Certification: IB diploma Facilities: Art studio, drama space, music room, athletic track, hockey, cricket and football fields, swimming pool, golf course.
USP: Known for its strict no-ragging policy Website: site.tisb.org Cathedral Vidya School, Lonavla Set against the Sahyadri Hills, the Cathedral Vidya School is the residential partner for the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. Its 40-acre campus accommodates about 250 students.
Certification: IB Diploma Facilities: Facilities for art, western and Indian music, plans to offer Indian classical dance. Sports facilities include cricket, tennis, basketball, football.
USP: Credibility of the Cathedral and John Connon school in Mumbai, in terms of academics.
Website: www.cathedrallonavala.org Here are some options that education counsellors, parents and students recommend, if you are considering Indian residential options after Class 10.
Rishi Valley School Located in a valley area in Andhra Pradesh, the