Training Principals for better academics

The main aim of the programme is to connect principals from school systems across the country with eminent leaders in business, the public sector, and non-profit organisations for a series of learning experiences that produce breakthrough thinking and action supporting systematic change

Hyderabad: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, said Nelson Mandela. Taking this into context Deloitte, a multi-national company under its corporate responsibility initiative has brought forward a unique programme ‘Courageous Principals Programme’ in which principals from 150 schools of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were selected for training.

Although the enrollment rates at the primary education levels are encouraging, the challenge of preventing a large number of children from quitting at the high school level remains.

The main aim of the programme is to connect principals from school systems across the country with eminent leaders in business, the public sector, and non-profit organisations for a series of learning experiences that produce breakthrough thinking and action supporting systematic change.

Principals from different model schools from every district of the two states- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana- are selected through rigorous process by the respective state governments. They would be trained in leadership development, relationship- building, and communication. With this programme Deloitte aims to touch lives of one million students by 2020.

“This programme has been implemented in the US and the results are fascinating. We have chosen Hyderabad for implementing it in India. Next we will be implementing the same progamme in Karnataka”, says the Deloitte spokesperson.

“Principals have a great influence on the teachers and students. By training the principals from these schools we are creating a friendly environment for teachers and students which results in reduction of dropout rates”, she adds.

“It is an intellectual programme, this training brings a drastic change in lives of many students. Principals are very important in an academic ecosystem, each of us at least handle 500 students who are mostly underprivileged. We try to convince the parents of the students to continue their schooling, as education is very important”, says Manju Bahadur, Principal, APMS, Bhamini, Srikakulam.

“I personally think that this programme will help us in handling situations in a better way, just like Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vignan also have to be turned in to a national slogan ”, she adds.

“There has been a lot of gap that needs to be filled, all the principals are well equipped with knowledge and zeal to change the society with education. But with day to day situations makes us loose the cool, such programmes are really important to remind us what we are capable of”, says T Mamata, Principal, Telangana Model School, Nalgonda.

“Just like Lord Hanuman has to be reminded of his power these kind of programmes tune us back into place for what we are here for”, she adds.