Boarding Schools: A Rising Choice Among Indian Parents

Mumbai: The World Boarding School fair, organised in Mumbai on Saturday, saw a huge turnout of students and parents. Boarding school representatives from across the globe were present at the fair, each trying to outdo the other in offerings. 

Providing Strong foundation 

After speaking to a number of school officials, The Free Press Journal understood that boarding schools provide a base to students who want to continue their higher studies in a foreign country. The general tenor was that a boarding school is a must if one wants to look at global education and aspirations. 

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Brendan Hughes, Associate Director of Admissions, St. Johnsbury Academy, Vermont, said, “studying in an international boarding school can help students develop skills to get into good colleges abroad at an early age, keeping them ahead of others.” 

Hughes informed that many parents come to their school as they have aspirations that their children will be able to excel academically, develop personally, and ultimately get a good college admission. “Students studying in boarding schools have a higher chance of getting into ivy league schools. Even our school has sent several students to some of the top universities and colleges around the world,” he claimed.

It is generally believed that if students start to adapt and learn global methods of teaching, higher education will be less challenging and the students will also learn to adapt to the cultural change.

Character building 

However, Rebecca Brooks, Interim Director of Admissions, Cheshire Academy in England’s Cheshire, is of the opinion that rather than viewing boarding schools as a means of getting into top and ivy league schools, they should be seen as a means of character building. She believes that while many parents focus on getting good college admissions, some others focus on their child getting learnings.

“Many parents send their children so that they get admission in good colleges. However, I believe they should focus on other aspects as well, which a few parents also do. Students are exposed to different cultures, customs, and religions with children coming from all over the world. They learn a lot from each other. Many parents send their kids for this,” she said.

International study set ups provide the ultimate diversity when it comes to a classroom. Especially, in countries which flaunt boarding school trend, like the UK and Switzerland, classrooms accommodate students from different cultures and races, and that teaches them what it takes for students to be more embracing of challenges that lie ahead.

Away from parents

Kimberly Wright Dixit, CEO of The Red Pen (which organised this fair), says that when children are in close proximity to their parents, they don’t have to manage any challenges or difficulties on their own as most of it is dealt with by their parents. She believes although several parents have many worries while sending their child away, they are ultimately happy that their child becomes independent after going to a boarding school.

By going to a boarding school “children are able to build resilience, be strategic, and build a grid around the things that are not in their comfort zone,” she said. “The best kind of parenting is when you let your kids fail and learn,” Dixit added. She believes that by doing this, they become self-sufficient and in the long term, they are able to create opportunities for themselves.

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The representative from Cheshire Academy also informed that many parents come to them because they believe boarding schools will be better able to help their child academically as compared to local schools. “In a local school, the students only see their teachers when they go to the school. However, in a boarding school, the teachers live with the student and are able to help the students better academically.” She stated that students often develop a comfortable bond with the teachers and are able to share any problems faced by them easily.

UK top choice

The UK was the top choice for boarding schools amongst Indian parents at the fair, Switzerland came next, and India was not far behind at the third place. Namita Mehta, president of The Red Pen, informed The Free Press Journal of several reasons why the UK is a preferred destination for parents. “Many of the parents prefer UK boarding schools because India used to be a British colony,” she pointed out. According to her, due to India's colonial past under the British rule, the education system in the UK and India is very similar. Dixit added that a similar education system can foster a sense of ease in the learning process of their children. UK’s closer distance from India, just an overnight flight, also makes England a preferred destination for many parents. 

Switzerland, India good alternatives

An alternative top choice amongst the parents is Switzerland as it is believed to provide a holistic experience to the child. While the UK is more focused on academic excellence, Switzerland provides a comprehensive experience to the child in terms of not just academics but also sports. Schools in Switzerland have courses for skiing, horse riding, and much more. 

Apart from sports, many schools in the country also provide its students the opportunity to learn multiple languages, according to the officials at the fair.  They also stated that many universities in Europe have two campuses — summer and winter. The students are able to experience both and live a wholesome experience.

Indian boarding schools are also not far behind in terms of being the top choice for parents. “Indian boarding schools give a sense of being at home even if you are staying away from your parents as the children can visit their parents frequently,” was another general opinion at the fair.