On 2nd July 2007, an elite school was born out of my passion to find an institution of international standard in the State of Odisha. This 10th Foundation Day of the institution christened then as international school takes me to walk down the memory lane to remind me what prompted me to go for a school when we have institutions like KIIT and KISS attracting world attention. When the KIIT was 10 years old, I visited various places across India. I felt there was no school of international standard in Odisha even though the State had made much progress in educational and industrial sectors during last 10 to 15 years. I wanted not only to set up such a school but also to ensure that its quality and standard is maintained. Thus, the KiiT International School was born.
To think of a global school at par with the international standard was itself a challenge, but it started with some courage and conviction. Today, the school stands at equal footing with the great institutions of India. While the sprawling lush green campus, the architecture and the infrastructure can be compared to any luxurious star hotel, the education and training imparted here are no less than the best public schools of India. Indeed, the teaching-learning process here is comparable to British schools; quality of teachers is as good as the Doon School; and educational ambiance and discipline are comparable to the lawrence School, Ooty.
The international character of the school is clearly visible, for many students from nearly 20 countries clamour to have admission here. It is the only institution in this part of the world to have been affiliated to three recognised boards like IB World Board, IGCSE by Cambridge and CBSE. The students have the choice to opt for any of these boards. The students and their guardians have all pleasures for the care taken in this school. From 7 O’clock in the morning till the 7 O’clock in the evening, the students remain attached to the teachers, who not only give education but take care of them. The unique feature of the school is perhaps the provision of both residential and day boarding facilities. During the hours when the students stay in the school, they are trained in various games and sports, dance, music, etc. The parents and the guardians who leave their children in the school are assured of the progress of their wards in various fields including music, horse riding, painting, etc.
Noted novelist Padma Bhusan Ruskin Bond, recognised for his role in the growth of children's literature in India, is the Brand Ambassador of the KiiT International School. As an advisor to the school, he has been encouraging the growth of the literary talent of the students. The English monthly Kloud 9 published from the school stands testimony to the creative ideas of the children guided by chief editor Ruskin Bond. The students get a unique opportunity of interacting with reputed literary figures of India and abroad during the Annual Children literary Festival organised here. Every year, the school holds International KiiT Model United Nations (MUN), through which students acquire knowledge about matters of national and international importance, both political and social. In both the festivals, students get the scopes to mingle with their counterparts from various institutions of India.
It’s a matter of great satisfaction that the school not only has held its standard but is forging ahead because of the efforts of its hairperson, principal, teachers and employees. I have visited more than 50 countries but never ever I found a principal as dedicated as the one in this school. He works for more than 16 hours in the school and interacts with every student to know his/her problems, both academic and personal, to find solutions to that. The teacher-student ratio in the school is 1:8, which is unique itself.
It is because of the care taken, the KiiT International School has been recognised as one of the best institution of the country. Besides, it has received awards and accolades from various corners. NDTV Education Award, Quality School Governance Award from NABET and QCI are cases in point. Besides, it has been placed among the 20 best international schools of India by the Education World, the largest selling English periodical on education, and A+++ by The Pioneer, the most popular English daily. By the specialised training given to the students, a lot of them get selected to study in Medical, Engineering and Management in various IITs, NITs, IIMs and other institutions. Baishali Mohanty, a student from this school, is now in Oxford as AlC Global Fellow while Roshan Mohanty is in Kings George College. Many others are now studying in the University of British Colombia.
To sum up, it can be said the KiiT International School synergises formal education, games and sports with moral and ethical values-based education. It is the moral education which helps the students to develop their personality. And in the KiiT International School, the students are imbibed with socio-cultural and moral values.
(Prof Samanta is Founder, KIIT & KISS)