Women are making their mark in every industry, whether politics, sports, business, film or music. This trend carries on in the education sector as well. Early advocates of education like Savitribai Phule and Vimla Kaul paved the way for education for young girls and women across the country.
Lifting even a single woman to a place of power can help millions of young girls believe that greatness is well within their reach too. Telling and re-telling women’s stories of excellence and revolution inspire many others to be the first to make a significant change in the world.
In honour of International Women’s Day, here are eight Indian women making their mark in the world of education.
Dr. Jayshree Periwal, Director, Jayshree Periwal International School
Dr. Periwal is a force to be reckoned with in the education sector. She started teaching tuition to two kids in her garage. Today, she has set up nine schools in Jaipur. Her schools have a remarkable international placement record. She and her son, Ayush Periwal, are responsible for introducing the first school in Rajasthan to follow an IB curriculum.
She has a fierce philosophy to inspire a generation of younger women. She says, “Darna mat, thakna mat, rukna mat, jhukna mat (Don’t be scared, don’t get tired, keep going and never back down). If you have the dedication and drive in your heart, believe in yourself and move forward with confidence”, as told in an interview with Newsahoot, an online news for kids platform.
Trisha Ramamurthy, Founder, Ekya Schools
Trisha Ramamurthy founded Ekya Schools in 2010. She holds a PhD in Education from the prestigious King’s College, London. Ekya Schools have come to be known as a chain of progressive K-12 schools, offering Kindergarten & Montessori and Grades 1-12 affiliated to CBSE, ICSE and Cambridge IGCSE.
Ekya Schools started with one primary goal in mind – to teach children not just what to learn, but how to learn. Such a forward and welcoming approach to learning helps children become interested in the learning process. In turn, students become lifelong learners that don’t only love different subjects, but the idea of learning itself.
Anita Paul, Head of School, Mayoor School Jaipur
The Mayoor School Jaipur is under the aegis of the General Council of Mayo College in Ajmer. Famously referred to as the ‘Eton of India’, Mayo College was a dream envisioned by Colonel Walter, which became a reality in 1875.
Mayoor School Jaipur is set to commence this year under the able leadership of Ms. Anita Paul. She has worked in prestigious schools such as Welham Girls’ School, Woodstock School and Indus World School. Recently, Mayoor School Jaipur registered as a Cambridge International School.
Vandana Bhatia, Principal, Holy Child Public School
Ms. Bhatia is a passionate and highly progressive educator. She is known to encourage 21st-century skills and believes in the holistic development of her students. She promotes pedagogical practices that teach students critical thinking, collaborating, problem-solving, communicating, analysing, and researching.
She took the school’s reins in 2019 and was recently awarded the C.V. Raman Award for Excellence in Leadership. Recently, the school also received the award for Excellence and Quality Education from Hindustan Times. Veteran actor and philanthropist Ms. Raveena Tandon presented the award.
Supreet Kaur, Principal, Cyboard School
Ms. Kaur has around fifteen years of rich experience in teaching and training in education corporates. She has worked with learning and teaching aid companies like Educomp, XSeed and Pearson India. She also served as a core team member of the Continuous Consecutive Evaluation Program implemented in schools nationwide.
Her philosophy as an educator is that education exists everywhere, from the family’s home environment to the formal wings of educational institutions. Learning is a continuous bond. Her leadership and experience have helped Cyboard School become one of the top online schools in India.
Anu Kumar, Founding Principal, Stepping Stones Senior Secondary School
Mrs. Kumar is an educator with over 40 years of experience. As a progressive leader in education, she believes that technology should be used to benefit children, especially in cases where it can help children maximise their intellectual capabilities.
Among schools in Chandigarh, her school stands out as one with a 21st-century approach to education and helps improve and even accelerate the holistic personality development of its students.
Shalini Agarwal, Principal, Dwarka International School
Shalini Agarwal is a passionate educationalist skilled in leadership and teaching. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Delhi University’s prestigious Jesus and Mary College and has worked with Apeejay School and Amity International School in the past.
She’s passionate about ensuring her students get access to the best and most reliable resources. Her dedication to ensuring students develop into leaders and not just toppers is commendable.
Kirti Sharma, Principal, Jesus’ Sacred Heart School
Kirti Sharma leads Jesus’ Sacred Heart School with a vision of holistic development and growth for all her students. She believes in using technology to prepare school children, who will inevitably become the leaders and change-makers of tomorrow.
Her school’s committed and supportive management and dedicated faculty of teachers effortlessly and peacefully create a school and activities that first and foremost cater to the benefit of the students. The school was recently declared a top school in Ludhiana by Times School Survey 2023.
Shalini Nambiar, Director Principal, Seth Anandram Jaipuria School
Shalini Nambiar, an avid dog lover, is a visionary who has set out to challenge the status quo of the Indian K-12 education sector. Her unique leadership style highlights the importance of the mental health of students and teachers.
She understands that education is increasingly becoming more about competition and achieving perfection. However, she believes that true education is inculcating a sense of accountability and responsibility towards each other and towards society.
Sunita Pandita, Principal, Dhaniraj English Medium School
With 20+ years of academic experience, Sunita Pandita leads Dhaniraj English Medium School established in 2018. Though established only five years ago, the school was featured as a top school in Pune by “Times School Survey 2022”. The school was also awarded in the National Curriculum category.
Mrs. Pandita’s motto is “work is worship”, which she has truly imbibed in her life and career. She has been awarded the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Excellence Award in 2022 for her tireless efforts in the field of education. She has also started a recent blog through which she shares the lessons she’s learned as an educator.