In the category of relatively progressive co-ed boarding schools, the reign of the Rishi Valley School, Chittoor, established by philosopher-savant J. Krishnamurti (1895-1986), shows no sign of ending. Here are India’s Best Co-ed Boarding Schools 2016-17 Its undoubtedly a sign of social progress that the number of co-ed boarding schools sufficiently well-known to be rated and ranked in the EW India School Rankings (EWISR) 2016 at 55, is more than the number of all-boys (28), and all-girls (18) boarding schools put together. Although single gender schools serve a useful purpose inasmuch as they enable children from conservative households to access high quality education in usually salubrious, conducive and safe environments, the causes of gender egalitarianism and inculcation of respect for girl children and women from an early age argue in favour of sexually segregated schools being gradually phased out. In this ipso facto progressive category of boarding schools, the reign of the Rishi Valley School (RVS), Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh), established by the sagacious educationist J. Krishnamurti (1895-1986) in 1924 to enable children to learn joyously in a nature-friendly and ecologically sustainable environment – long before it became fashionable to do so – shows no sign of ending. The CISCE-affilated RVS has been ranked India’s premier co-ed boarding school on almost all parameters of education excellence for the past five of six years. The only time it was pipped at the post was in 2014 when the Sahyadri School, Pune, also inspired by the education ideals of Krishnamurti, was ranked #1, and that was probably because A.S. Shirali, principal of RVS for 15 years was appointed principal of Sahyadri that year. In EWISR 2016, Sahyadri School, Pune is ranked #6. Perhaps inevitably for an institution that is invariably awarded highest rating under the parameter of life skills and conflict management, RVS principal Siddhartha Menon is reluctant to beat the schools drum. Nevertheless he deputed Dr. D. Anatha Jyothi, the schools vice principal, to react to the top rank awarded to RVS by EW sample respondents this year. “We don’t believe rating and ranking of schools or students serves much purpose. In RVS, we regard the school as being a work in progress and believe schools can learn from continuous exchange of experiences. Therefore, while we respect the effort invested in publishing the annual EducationWorld India School Rankings, we would be happier if you provided a platform for diverse schools to meet together, share the experiences and challenges they face, and explore key issues in education. RVS is an old school and has grown in reputation due to the contribution of many individuals. J. Krishnamurti’s teachings have laid the foundation for the school, and they continue to inspire much of the work and learning that happens here”, says Jyothi. An English and linguistics alumna of IIT-Madras, Jyothi first signed up as a teacher at RVS in 1996, taught English in the UK for several years and rejoined RVS, which currently has 370 students mentored by 59 teachers, in 2007. As last year,…
