DPS Ghaziabad sports to the top

he red brick structure of Delhi Public School (DPS) Ghaziabad stands in stark contrast to the dusty road that leads to the school. Located on the Delhi-Meerut highway and spread over 15 acres, the campus offers Wi-Fi facility and is also home to six international-quality cricket pitches, 

four basketball courts and a skating rink.
The 29-year-old school is naturally one of the popular choices for parents in Ghaziabad.

"The school has a unique login ID for each student. This system allows us to be in touch with the progress in the classrooms. The teachers are very tech-savvy and are extremely organised," said Dr Anju Rai, a gynaecologist, whose two sons study in the school.

"If my child is unable to attend school, we can access the lessons taught in class through this system."

The school has 3,000 students and 160 permanent teachers led by an award-winning principal.

"The teacher student ratio is 35:1. This helps us give individualised attention to every student," said Kumkum Sahai, headmistress of the secondary wing.

"Personal contact classes are held for students who are weak and teachers are constantly trained to cater to the needs of the students."

One extra hour of sports before the school starts every morning is proof of how much importance the school gives to sports.

The world-class sporting facilities at the school have borne outstanding results too.

"Initially my parents weren't keen on me pursuing swimming. But once I won an event and my photograph appeared in the newspapers, my parents agreed," said nine-year-old Saira Sirohi, a Class 5 student.

She is one of the youngest swimmers in the country to cover a distance of 38 kilometre in the record time of 16 hours and 35 minutes.

Pooja Chaudhry, whose three daughters study in the school, said, "Children hardly go out to play nowadays. So the one extra hour of sports, apart from the usual `sports class', takes care of all physical activity a growing child needs."

The school's other sports stars are Sikandar Ali Khan (13) and Prince Bajaj.

Khan, a Class 8 student, represents India in under-14 football and also captains the Uttar Pradesh under-14 team.
And Class 6 student Bajaj is the the school's star chess player who has participated in national and international competitions.

Making teaching interesting and lessons more lucid and accessible are the audio-visual modules called interactive technology boards that the teachers use as against the traditional black boards.

"While teaching with these aids one can visualise and this in turn helps kids retain what they have learnt. When children see the interactive board, they are more involved in the process of learning," said Sangeeta Mukherjee Roy who teaches Social Science in the secondary section.

"We can customise the learning according to the needs of the students and it saves a lot of time too."

Roy said the laptop provided to every teacher helps them formulate teaching tools better. "Encouraging and bringing the child's potential to the fore is our prime objective," said Rita Kapur, the school principal.

1. Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad
Numbers: 3,000 students, 160 permanent teachers
Board: CBSE
Academic rigour: Toppers of Class 10 and 12 for 2008-09 scored 98.6 per cent (NCR topper) and 96.6 per cent, respectively.
Money matters: Monthly fee (including tuition fee, technology fee and annual charges): Prep to Class 5: Rs 3,356 Class 6 to 10: Rs 3,403 Class 11 and 12: Rs 3,356 Science fee: Rs 150 (optional) Bus charges: Rs 650 per month
New admission fee: Rs 7,000
Caution money: Rs 3,000
Website: www.dpsghaziabad.com

2. Delhi Public School, Indirapuram
Numbers: 5300 students, 300 teachers
Board: CBSE
Academic rigour: Out of 196 students who appeared for Class 10 boards in 2008-09, 81 students scored above above 90 per cent. This was the first batch of Class 12, out of 115 students, 113 secured above 60 per cent.
Money matters: One time admission charge: Rs 40,000; monthly fee: between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500.
Nursery admission: Student selection is based on an informal interaction with the parents and the child.
Website: www.dpsindirapuram.com

3. DLF Public School
Numbers: 2,300 students, 125 teachers Board: CBSE
Academic rigour: In 2008-09, the Class 10 and Class 12 toppers scored 96 per cent and 95.5 per cent respectively.
Money matters: One time admission charge: Rs 32,500; monthly fee: between Rs 2,675 and Rs 2,785.
Nursery admission: Selection of the student is based on an informal interaction with the parents and the child.
Website: www.dlfps.com

4. Amity International School, Vasundhara
Numbers: 1,800 students, 112 teachers
Board: CBSE
Academic rigour: All 42 students who appeared for the Class 10 boards scored 70 per cent and above. The topper scored 95.8 percent. The school's first batch of Class 12 students will appear for boards this year.
Money matters: One-time admission charge: Rs 25,000; monthly fee: Rs 2,900
Nursery admission: Selection of student is based on an informal interaction with the parents and the child.
Website: www.amity.edu/aisv

5. DPS-Ghaziabad, Vasundhara
Numbers: 1,600 students, 90 teachers
Board: CBSE
Academic rigour: The Class 10 topper scored 96.6 per cent while the Class 12 topper scored 94.8 per cent in 2008-09 boards.
Money matters: One time admission charge: Rs 28,000; monthly fee: Rs 2,400.
Nursery admission: Selection of the student is based on an informal interaction with parents and the child.
Website: www.dpsgv.in

6. Seth Anandram Jaipuria School
Numbers: 2,050 students and 100 teachers
Board: CBSE
Academic rigour: The 2008-09 Class 10 topper scored 92 per cent.The school's first Class 12 batch will appear for boards this year.
Money matters: One time admission charge of Rs 20,000; monthly fee ranges between Rs 2,100 and 2,300.
Nursery admission: Selection is based on an interaction with parents. The child's oral and motor skills are also tested.
Website: www.schooljaipuria.com

7. Uttam School
Numbers: 1,104 students, 76 teachers
Board: CBSE Academic rigour: The topper of Class 10 boards in 2008-09 scored 97.4 per cent while the topper of Class 12 scored 94.6 per cent.
Money matters: Monthly fee ranges between Rs 2,900 and Rs 3,200.
Nursery admission: Selection of the students is based on an interaction with the parents and the child.
Website under construction e-mail: www.uttamschoolforgirls @gmail.com

8. Bal Bharati Public School, Brij Vihar
Numbers: 2,488 students
Board: CBSE
Nursery admission: Selection of the student is based on an interaction with the parents and the child.
Website: www.bbpsbv.org

9. Cambridge School, Vasundhara
Numbers: 1,700 students and 85 teachers
Board: CBSE
Academic rigour: All students scored above 60 per cent in Class 10 while 96 per cent students scored above 60 per cent in Class 12 in the 2008-09 boards.
Money matters: One time admission fee: Rs 16,000; monthly fee ranges between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,160.
Nursery admission: Construction on in primary section, no nursery admissions this year. Selection of students done as per the Ganguly Committee recommendations.
Website: Under construction

10. Ryan International
Numbers: 2,200 students and 90 teachers
Board: CBSE
Academic rigour: Seventeen students scored over 90 per cent while 58 students scored more than 80 per cent out of 130 students who appeared for the Class 10 boards in 2008-09.
Money matters: Monthly fee ranges between Rs 2,100 and Rs 2,300
Nursery admission: A registration form must be filled followed by an interaction of the child and his parents with the principal. The admission depends on the availability of the seats.
Website: www.ryanghaziabad.co.in

Admission Challenge

1. The school offers admission only to local students - those who have a sibling already studying in the school, children of alumni and permanent residents.

2. Parents with girl child also get preference for admission to the 100 nursery and prep seats.

3. the other attributes that a child must possess are clarity of speech, developmental and motor skills.

4.The parents' background and educational qualification are considered.

Source : HT