The landmark event of the Cfore School Rankings 2024 Awards Ceremony took place on September 11th, 2024, at The Grand New Delhi, celebrating the finest minds in education. The ceremony was filled with insightful discussions, prestigious recognitions, and inspiring addresses, highlighting the transformative power of education.
The day began with a solemn Lighting of the Lamp (Jyothi Prajwalana), a traditional Indian ceremony symbolizing the illumination of knowledge. Dr. N. Bhaskara Rao Eminent Social Scientist, Political Analyst Communication Scholar & Founder – Chairman, Centre for Media Studies, Dr Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive & Secretary, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), Mr. Pramod Sharma – Vice President, IPSC Trust & President, Genesis Global School, Noida, Dr. Shayama Chona, Founder-President, Tamana Association and Ms. Abha Adams – Director, Ahvaan Education Foundation graced the event as esteemed Guests of Honour. The atmosphere was enlivened by a vibrant and elegant welcome dance performed by the students of Vasant Valley School and Ryan International School, Vasant Kunj.
Following the inaugural ceremony, Mr. Premchand Palety, Founder of Cfore and the mind behind the Cfore ranking methodology, took to the stage to introduce the awards. He detailed the rigorous, data-driven processes used to evaluate and rank schools across the country. Mr. Palety’s explanation highlighted how schools are judged on an exhaustive list of parameters making the Cfore Awards a hallmark of educational merit.
A significant highlight of this educational extravaganza was the Cfore Lifetime Achievement Awards. This distinguished recognition was bestowed upon five luminaries who have significantly impacted the landscape of education in India, namely:
1) Lieutenant General Arjun Ray, CEO of Indus International Schools, was honoured for his visionary approach to mainstream education.
2) Mrs. Anjali Jaipuria, Vice-Chairperson of Integral Education Society, was recognized for her pioneering work in holistic and value-based education.
3) Dr. Shayama Chona, Founder-President of Tamana Association, was honoured for her relentless advocacy for special needs education and STEM Education.
4) Ms. Rekha Krishnan, Principal of Vasant Valley School, New Delhi, was honored for her exemplary leadership in shaping young minds.
5) Mr. Damodar Prasad Goyal, President of the Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan, received the award for his dedication to uplifting the standards of private education in India.
The outstanding contributions of the Lifetime Achievement Awardees, to the education sector, were acknowledged with admiration and applause.
The spotlight then shifted to the Cfore Edu Leader Awards, which celebrated innovative leaders at the helm of some of India’s top institutions. The awardees were recognized for their exemplary contributions to the field of education. These awardees were:
1) Dr. Mahesh Prasad, School Head, Step By Step School, Noida.
2) Mr. Atul Khanna, Director, Strawberry Fields High School, Chandigarh.
3) Mr. Sandeep Chhabra, Principal of Indus International School, Pune.
4) Mr. Sreekanth Koganti, Director of NextGen & Kennedy Schools, and President of ISMA AP.
5) Ms. Avnita Bir, Director-Principal, R N Podar School, Mumbai.
6) Mr. Manit Jain, Co-Founder, The Heritage Group of Schools, and Former Chairman, FICCI ARISE.
These educators were honoured for setting the bar high, driving meaningful change and leading their schools to unparalleled success.
The first keynote speaker, Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive & Secretary of CISCE, addressed the gathering with a thought-provoking speech on the evolving educational ecosystem. He emphasized the importance of preparing students for a future shaped by rapid technological advancements while maintaining the core values of education.
The focus then shifted to the first session of the Cfore School Excellence Awards. These awards recognized schools from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa for their exceptional academic achievements, leadership, and focus on student development. The awards celebrated the diverse educational innovations emerging from these states.
After a refreshing tea break, the insightful ‘closed door’ Roundtable Discussion on whether teacher training is “merely an event or a truly transformational tool” began. Moderated by the eminent educationist Dr. Ashok Pandey the panel featured the below leading personalities, in the field of education, as panellists:
- Mr. Vividh Gupta, Principal, Bal Bhavan Public School.
- Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia, Principal, KIIT World School.
- Dr. Praseedha Sreekumar, Principal, Indus Altum International School.
- Dr. Amrita Vohra, COO & Director Education, GEMS Education, India
- Ms. Priyanka Bhatkoti, Principal, Gyanshree School, Noida
- Mrs. Anita Malhotra, Director-Principal, Lotus Valley International School, Gurugram
- Mr. Yash Saxena, Principal, The Rajkumar College, Rajkot
- Mrs. Varalakshmi Mogali, Director, Jubilee Hills Public School, Hyderabad
After the discussion concluded, moderator Dr Ashok Pandey presented an insightful summary of the discussion to the audience.
The second session of the Cfore School Excellence Awards recognized outstanding schools from Uttar Pradesh, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Uttarakhand, spotlighting their dedication to academic excellence and student welfare. The third session recognized schools from Eastern and Central India, including Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, North East, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Each school represented the best of what their region has to offer in terms of innovation, inclusivity, and excellence.
Post-lunch, a second ‘closed door’ Roundtable Discussion commenced on the intriguing topic, “Personalized learning and AI: Will they destroy the social structure of schools?” Moderated by Mr. Arijit Ghosh, Vice President – Academics, Seth M R Jaipuria Group of Schools, the session featured the below educational luminaries as panellists:
- Dr. Capt. Ankur Dhillon, Chairman of Venkateshwar Signature School.
- Ms. Neena Kaul, Director of Heritage Xperiential Learning School.
- Mr. Ajay Singh – Principal, The Scindia School, The Fort, Gwalior
- Rev. Fr. Joseph Ravindra Bharat Reddy Yeruva – Correspondent & Principal, STEM School, Guntur
- Ms. Manju Rana – Founder – Director, Concort Consultants
- Mr. Gautam Rajgarhia – Pro Vice Chairman, DPS Varanasi I Nashik I Lava Nagpur I Hinjewadi Pune
After the discussion, the diverse perspectives, on AI and personalized learning were presented, in the form of a summary, to the larger audience by the session moderator Mr. Arijit Ghosh.
The fourth Cfore School Excellence Awards session honoured schools from South India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka). Schools across this region were recognized for their commitment to nurturing talent and fostering academic brilliance. Fr. Maria Charles, Ph. D., SDB – National Secretary, CBCI Office for Education and Culture, Admiral (Dr) KS Noor (Retd.) – Former Principal & Vice Chairman, Indian Naval Academy & Sainik Schools Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and Dr. Vijay Datta, Principal, Modern School, Barakhamba joined the event as esteemed Guests of Honor.
The final keynote address for the day was given by Shri Vivek Atray, a motivational speaker and ex-IAS officer, and it was both inspiring and uplifting. His speech, titled “Finding Success Within,” resonated deeply with the audience, leaving them with a sense of purpose and self-reflection.
The special awards segment was particularly heartwarming, with the Brainfeed Award of Excellence in Commerce Education going to the Master Minds Group of Institutions and a special felicitation for Mrs. Pallavi Sharma, recipient of the National Teachers’ Award 2024, for her unwavering dedication to education.
The final sessions of the Cfore School Excellence Awards honoured schools from Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, J&K, and Himachal Pradesh. Schools across these regions were recognized for their unwavering commitment to quality education and academic brilliance.
The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks, acknowledging the contributions of educators and celebrating the immense potential of schools in shaping the future of the nation. The Cfore School Rankings 2024 Awards Ceremony was a resounding success, a celebration of achievement, innovation, and educational leadership.
