Within two years of start-up, Gujarat’s first internationally bench-marked day-cum-residential school has chalked up an aggregate enrollment of 600 students, including 10 percent from abroad

In promoting English medium schools and English learning in general, perhaps the most recalcitrant of the 29 states of the Indian Union is the western seaboard state of Gujarat (pop. 50.5 million). This is evidenced by statistics which indicate that there are only 14 English medium CISCE and 123 CBSE affiliated schools in Gujarat. And the number of new generation international schools affiliated with European or American examination boards is negligible. Somewhat surprising given the large Gujarati diaspora in Britain and the US. 

But this scenario is all set to change following the enthusiastic response to the Vadodara (aka Baroda)-based Navrachana International School (NIS estb. 2003). Within two years of admitting its first batch of students, this co-ed day-cum-residential school has chalked up an aggregate enrollment of 600 students, of whom 10 percent are from abroad. This fast-enrollment record is in sharp contrast to international schools in general, which take three-five years to attain similar levels of registration. Carefully positioned as a genuinely international K-XII school, NIS is affiliated to the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), Geneva and Cambridge International Examinations, UK.

The management has taken special care to equip NIS, sited on a landscaped 25 acre campus on the outskirts of Vadodara (pop. 1.8 million), with state-of-the-art infrastructure. Spacious, well-lit, fully wired and air-conditioned classrooms with 18 seating capacity, technology aided learning resource centres, science laboratories, culture and language centres and an amphitheatre, are fully operational.

Moreover NIS boasts a library-cum-media centre with over 30,000 books, 1,000 CDs, VCDs and DVDs and 53 magazine subscriptions. The attached distance-learning studio provides access to curriculums, syllabi and teaching from some of the best education institutions worldwide. The library is also equipped with networked computers with internet access. In addition subject specific libraries are being established in subject rooms, teachers conclave and halls of residence.

“We are committed to maintaining a 10:1 pupil-teacher ratio so that effective learning happens in classrooms. Our objective is to not only make students academically proficient but also to develop the qualities of tolerance, humility and compassion in them. Our mission at NIS is to train our students to become life long learners,” says Tejal Amin a commerce graduate of MS University, Baroda and chairperson of the Navrachana Education Society (NES regd: 1965), which has promoted NIS, constructed at an estimated capital cost of Rs.25 crore. A Vadodara-based registered charitable trust, NES manages five education institutions” Navrachana College of Education, Vidyani Vidyalaya, Navrachana School, Sama, NavPrerna (a school for under-privileged children), Navrachana Open School and Navrachana Sports Academy — with an aggregate enrollment of 5,000.

Among the unique features of NIS are the school’s subject rooms/ resource centres. These are large rooms with moveable furniture which is rearranged for different teaching methodologies such as project groups, circle discussions, classrooms or demonstration sites. Each subject room is equipped with hi-tech teaching aids including DVD players, LCD projectors, a subject library with models, charts and internet connectivity.

In keeping with the school’s emphasis on learning by doing, science laboratories are equipped to international standards and encourage experimentation under the supervision of trained teachers and lab technicians. The Art, Design and Technology Centre prepares students for living and working in contemporary technological environments. Visual and performing arts and workshops are held in Kala Bhavan, the school’s 6,000 sq. ft auditorium with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment for learning music, dance and theatre.

The school’s sprawling campus offers numerous sports education opportunities. Outdoor facilities are available for athletics, volleyball, football, tennis, hockey, cycling, cricket, horse riding, basketball, golf and swimming. Moreover provision has been made indoors for gymnastics, carom, squash, billiards and snooker, table tennis, yoga, chess, taekwando and judo. “Expert coaching is available seven days a week from trainers who are outstanding practitioners of their own discipline. Moreover our international standard swimming pool with coaches in attendance is open to all children,” says Amin.

A day-cum-boarding school, NIS has capacity to take on 360 boarders in its three residential complexes” one each for boys and girls, and a third for teachers and other staff. All halls of residence are centrally air-conditioned and designed for safety, comfort and aesthetic living. Air-conditioned suites, with bedrooms each with a wardrobe and study table accommodate three students. The study lounge with networked personal computers provides an alternative study environment.

Looking into the future, Amin is confident of reaching full capacity of 1,200 students within the next three-five years. “Within the next two years we want to be rated the best international school in the country, dispensing high quality, globally accepted English medium education. As our enrollment increases we will continuously upgrade our infrastructure, hire new teachers, send existing teachers for training abroad, etc,” she says.

With NIS having got off to a great start and a growing number of NRI parents indicating interest in sending their children back home for culturally-rooted, globally benchmarked English medium education, it’s only a matter of time before other educationists follow suit. An English learning revolution may be about to sweep hitherto recalcitrant Gujarat.

Admission & fees 

Navrachana International School (NIS) is a co-education, English medium K-XII day-cum-residential school. Admissions are open throughout the year and is subject to applicants’ satisfactory performance in a personal interaction.Academic options at NIS: 

Cambridge International Examination’s IGCSE (class X) examination

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), IB Middle Years Program (MYP) and the proposed IB Diploma Program (DP) of the International Baccalaureate Organization, Geneva

NIS is awaiting affiliation with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi Tuition fees (annual)

Residential: Rs.250,000-400,000 (class III-XII)

Day boarding: Rs.50,000-250,000 (K-XII)Website: www.navrachana.ac.inE-mail: nis@navrachna.ac.in.

Srinidhi Raghavendra