A school of Happy Learners!

The Singapore based Global Indian International School (GIIS) chain is best acclaimed as world@aps@s most award winning school in Academic Excellence. The international and national awards include titles like Asia Pacific Quality Organization, Singapore Quality Class Star Certification and IMC RB National Award to name a few. The awards are based on benchmarking of processes that measure achievements, therefore, stand as testimony to excellence in education. Research conducted on primary and middle school children showed that to achieve education excellence, the students need to be receptive and that happens only when they are happy to learn. The happiness quotient is reflected in their academic scores, confidence level and over-all well-being. It is imperative to have an environment which is friendly, warm and secure making it conducive to learning. How do we know that the students are truly happy and how does one determine the level of happiness? GIIS Indore is the first campus to have implemented the GIIS Happiness Index in India for students from the age-group of 6- 13 years. To set parameters needed to measure the happiness of children, the school has identified some guidelines for Happiness Index; which is substantiated by a study conducted by the UNESCO titled ‘Education for Sustainable Development’: Linking Learning and Happiness. The study states that Gross National Happiness (GNH) used to measure progress in Bhutan’s growth takes into consideration environmental preservation, cultural promotion and good governance together with economic prosperity. In order to create an environment where students are happy to learn and look forward to coming to school, GIIS has derived the lead indicators taking the GNH as base. Annual survey is conducted to check the Happiness Quotient and basis the findings, the school identifies areas of strength and weakness and take up each area to enhance or bring in remedial measure as the situation demands.

GIIS Indore has enhanced the physical environment in creating green spaces where students are encouraged to tend to plants, takiefield trips and participate in sports and games. Students and staff are involved in creating sculptures through best out of waste. At an emotional level acts of kindness and sessions on ethics and discipline at Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Universal Values within the premises and working on integrated projects at the Virasat Heritage Club help in developing the finer sensitivities. Involvement of parents and grandparents as stake holders in the education process is again an important factor that contributes to improving the self-esteem of students. Participative workshops and project based learning through intra-curricular approach gives an opportunity to each student to display his or her work. The role of the teacher at GIIS becomes more of a facilitator and a mentor in order to establish confidence in the minds of the students, helping them share their problems and concerns that are handled sensitively. The way towards success in the global landscape is through inter-connectedness that works on collaborative working. GIIS Indore in its attempt to create ‘Global Citizens’ have started in creating a school for Happy Learners.