In today’s world, choosing the right school for your child is never an easy affair. Have we ever truly reflected on what we want for our children when we look for schools, colleges, or universities? If you are a parent with a clear vision for your child’s future, how do you identify an institution that matches this vision? And if you are unsure, how do you decide what should really matter in your child’s education?
One way is to ask yourself what you truly want from a school. The other is to understand the school’s strengths and see whether they align with your expectations. Most parents rely on reviews, testimonials, and recommendations. While this approach may work for purchasing consumer products, education is a different matter. It is a process that shapes a child’s future and deserves deeper evaluation.
Every school has its strengths and weaknesses. Some may offer world-class facilities, others may focus on academics, sports, or sustainability. Some institutions excel in placements, while others emphasise creativity and ingenuity. The key is for parents to decide what they value most and then verify whether the institution can deliver on those values.
This is where data becomes critical. Educational choices must be based on facts, outcomes, and evidence. While schools highlight success stories, it is equally important to validate their claims. For example, a school may advertise excellent sports infrastructure, but if it does not have qualified coaches or structured training, the claim falls short. Parents must ask for proof and not just promises.
When we examine the quality landscape of Indian schools, the gap becomes apparent. The National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) is India’s national accreditation body for schools. Yet, out of more than 1.5 million schools, only about 50 have received accreditation. Similarly, UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) collects extensive data from 14.72 lakh schools across India. Of these, 10.18 lakh are government schools, and the rest fall under private and international boards. This database includes details of infrastructure, teachers, and student performance. However, for most parents, the information is inaccessible. Interpreting district-level coded Excel sheets is complicated, making it nearly impossible for the average parent to use this data for school selection.
By contrast, many countries make this information simple and accessible. In the UK, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) regularly inspects schools and publishes concise reports for the public. In Sweden, the School Inspectorate plays a similar role. Parents can easily read reports that highlight both best practices and areas of improvement. These are practical, parent-friendly tools for making informed choices.
Global studies also highlight the importance of independent, external evaluations. A McKinsey & Company report on the world’s highest-performing education systems shows that regular reviews and third-party assessments are central to improvement. In places such as Singapore, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, external inspections are often combined with self-assessment. This balance ensures that schools stay accountable, and consistently monitoring the outcomes of these assessments ensures that both the education system and the government have the necessary insights to take timely action when schools begin to underperform.
India must move in the same direction. Collating data in a usable format and making it available in simple language is the need of the hour. Parents must also demand data-backed evidence from institutions. Independent assessments that incorporate student and parent feedback can help schools establish genuine trust with their stakeholders.
Finally, data should not remain static. Schools must show how they continue to improve over time and how they address weaknesses highlighted in evaluations. Celebrating achievements is essential, but so is answering specific questions about quality and continuous improvement, year after year.
For parents, this means looking beyond perception and asking for proof. For schools, it means being open to external evaluation and transparent about outcomes. Only then can we create a culture where educational choices are informed by facts, not just impressions.
