We are elated that DPS, Greater Faridabad is ranked #48 nationally, #27 in Haryana and #1 in Greater Faridabad in the co-ed day schools category in the latest EducationWorld India School Rankings 2020-21 (EW November).

We are thankful to EducationWorld for recognising our verve and grit as an ambitious and student-centric school. This is the first time our seven-year young school with two outstanding CBSE results under our belt, has been included in EWISR although we are an ATL, ISA, GISA, Robert Bosch awardee school. Our greatest achievement is the creation of a 3,600-strong school community that is united in its purpose.

Surjeet Khanna
Principal
DPS, Greater Faridabad

Institutional pride

I thank the EW team for ranking Smt. Kamalabai Educational Institution, Bengaluru among the country’s Top 100 co-ed day schools and #15 in Karnataka and Bengaluru. Your recognition validates our commitment and efforts to ensure that we prepare our children for an uncertain future.

Our school was established in 1931 by Sri Thiruvengadaswamy Mudaliar who had the foresight and vision to provide quality education for girl children. Though it started as an all-girls school, under the visionary leadership of V.K. Surendra, the founder’s grandson, ten years ago, it transformed into a co-educational CBSE school which has adopted progressive pedagogies and practices to meet the changing needs of society. Our curriculum design is based on recognition of the universal truth that every child has the inherent ability to learn well, and does so at her own unique pace.

Srinivas Kuppa
Vice President, Strategy, Design & Implementation
Smt. Kamalabai Educational Institution, Bengaluru

Haphazard rankings

With reference to the rating and ranking of Bal Bharati Public School, Dwarka (BBPS) in the EWISR 2020-21 (EW November), I am amazed to find schools with lower board exam averages being ranked above us in the co-ed day schools league tables. This year, our school’s ranking has slipped from #66 in 2019 to #104 with no valid explanation provided for the same. Notably, our results and achievements have witnessed consistent growth year on year.

BBPS is held in high public esteem in terms of academic rigour with maximum number of NTSE/JSTSE selections. The school has also received a record number of awards and accolades in academics, sports and co-curricular activities. It is therefore surprising that a school which is head and shoulders higher than its contemporaries, is ranked lower than its peers.

We are regular subscribers of EducationWorld since the past several years and have been recommending the magazine to students and teachers as well. This haphazard ranking has put a question mark on the credibility of your magazine.

Suruchi Gandhi
Principal, Bal Bharati Public School, Dwarka, New Delhi

Academic reputation is only one of the 14 parameters on which schools are rated and ranked. Moreover, the sample respondents although well informed, change from year to year. My advice: build your brand equity — Editor

Data not collected

We are very proud to be ranked among the country’s Top 10 schools for over seven years. However, this year’s ranking is unfair since no real data was collected.

We believe the Covid crisis made it difficult for the survey team to collect data from schools. A few respondents can at best provide a one-sided picture. The reality is that our students’ achievements have been phenomenal in national and international sports and cultural events. As part of our outreach initiatives, we have adopted a village and are focusing on providing education, primary health, drinking water and solar cookers. Moreover, our academic results have always been our strength. But this year, we did not send our board results to you only because we thought they were not real scores.

I earnestly request you to address this issue. If not, we do not wish to participate in the survey because it sends a wrong message to the public.

Revathi Srinivasan
Director, Education and Principal
Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane

I’m surprised you are unaware that “data is not collected” from schools — The EW India School Rankings Surveys are based on the perceptions of over 11,000 knowledgeable sample respondents who rate India’s Top 2,500 schools on 14 parameters of school education excellence. (See p.41 & 42 of EW November) — Editor

Disappointing rank

We are very disappointed that unlike the past several years, in the EW India School Rankings 2020-21, St. Columba’s is not ranked among the country’s Top 10 boys day schools. We have always looked up to EducationWorld for support and guidance to help achieve our goals.

Community service is at the centre of our being at Columba’s. Yet the score awarded by your sample respondents is an inexplicable 45. We believe in inclusivity and dignity for all. In fact, we take pride that our motto We Care is reinforced in our students so they become agents of peace, justice and love wherever they go and make their part of the world a better place. At Columba’s it is our way of life!

Please let us know how we can improve. We believe in hard work and perseverance.

Rajashree Vipin
St. Columba’s School, Delhi

See editor’s response above. Improve your communication! — Editor

Varying weightages query

In the EW India School Rankings 2020-21, there are a total of 14 parameters, 13 for a maximum score of 100 and one (competence of faculty) is given double weightage — 200 — making the max score to be 1,500. However, SAI International School, Bhubaneswar has scored 115 for teacher welfare and development, and 146 for academic reputation. How is this computed? There are other similar instances as well.

Also is the EWISR 2020-21 data collected and collated during 2019-20 or only during 2020?

Sridhar R. Ganti on email

This year in a departure from previous practice, our partner market research company C fore has assigned varying weights to some parameters while retaining the highest weightage (200) for teacher competence. Hitherto, all parameters except teacher competence were given equal weightage (100). See p.41 & 42 of EW November for the complete methodology — Editor

Corrigendum

The Delhi government-promoted School of Excellence, Dwarka (estb.2018) has been inadvertently ranked with co-ed day schools in the EW India School Rankings 2020-21 (EW November). Please note its correct category is Government Day Schools.

The error is regretted — Editor