Brainfeed organised a session with a select group of school principals in Bhopal in January titled ‘A dialogue with K V Brahmam. Here is a report…
A recent interactive session with school leaders in Bhopal brought to the fore pedagogical practices, leadership approaches and student-centric initiatives that reflect the changes in school education. Despite their diverse contexts, a common thread across institutions was the emphasis on holistic development, experiential learning and strong value systems.
Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Principal of Ivy Global School, highlighted the importance of structured planning and collaborative execution. He spoke about a system where responsibilities are clearly delineated among staff, followed by coordinated implementation across departments. Teachers design activities aligned with different learning styles—visual, kinesthetic and others—while coordinators ensure effective delivery and adherence to the school planner.
At Anand Vihar School, Principal Shailesh Zope exemplifies leadership through personal involvement. Despite his administrative responsibilities, he continues to teach Mathematics full-time, believing that leading by example strengthens teacher motivation. He also underscored the school’s commitment to affordability, noting that it serves a low-middle-income community while maintaining CBSE standards with one of the lowest fee structures in the region.
Chetanya Saxena, Principal of LNCT World School, described his seven-year-old institution as one deeply invested in all-round development. The school prioritizes reading and writing, regularly invites writers and authors for workshops, and encourages student participation in competitions. Technology integration is evident through AI workshops, while daily 15-minute morning activity sessions nurture creativity and discipline. The school’s achievements in sports, including two state-level cricketers and 14 division-level Kho-Kho players, further reflect its balanced approach.
From a management standpoint, Jayant Daswani, Director of Blue Bird School, emphasized academic oversight. He personally reviews student notebooks to gauge progress and ensure consistency in teaching quality.
At Somaiya Vidya Mandir, located 65 km from Bhopal and serving primarily rural students, Pre-Primary Head Sonal Jhawar spoke about the school’s focus on core values and cultural pride. The curriculum integrates hands-on experiences such as pottery, gardening, music and storytelling. A distinctive practice is inviting grandparents to share stories, strengthening intergenerational bonds. Another unique initiative involves students placing mud handprints on a tree, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
Rachna Nair, Principal of Magadham International School, outlined the school’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a pioneering space lab, robotics, coding and AI labs, and a home theatre for storytelling development. A Montessori lab is being developed, while sports and yoga remain mandatory, with a new badminton court in progress.
Preeti Khanna, Principal of Red Rose School, stressed the role of a dynamic morning assembly in energizing students. The school runs remedial classes and offers various clubs—such as Environmental and English Clubs—allowing students to rotate and explore different interests.
Bharti Sharma, Principal of Sharda Vidya Mandir Higher Secondary School, shared multiple impactful practices. The school promotes a strong reading culture through an annual book fair where books are priced affordably at Rs 40–50. Teachers’ work is regularly reviewed, and the school maintains an impressive student-teacher ratio of roughly 3:1. Given that many students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the school also emphasizes personal hygiene and life skills, providing medical kits in classrooms. A standout feature is the annual day function, entirely managed by students, which nurtures leadership and organizational abilities.
Kalamohan, Academic Consultant for CBSE Schools and founder of Vedant School, highlighted the importance of early identification and intervention for neurodivergent children. His outreach to urban slums has already helped mainstream seven to eight students.
Finally, Surbhi Pandey, Headmistress of LNCT World School, spoke about minimizing excessive social media use among students while encouraging reading habits.
Collectively, these insights paint a picture of Bhopal’s schools as vibrant learning ecosystems—combining innovation, discipline, empathy and community engagement to shape well-rounded future citizens.
