Tier II Town – Capital of Meghalaya State
Businessman – Mining, Real Estate & Construction
Super Premium School with State of the art Infrastructure that supports 21st century educational pedagogy
2020 (School Launched During Peak Covid Times).
Shillong being located in north east India, the biggest challenge was to bring in the resources from all parts of the country. The architect from Bangalore, Construction Company from Kolkata, and the quality School Head and teachers from all over the country.
Background:
In June 2019, we received an online enquiry from the trustees of Donush Siangshai Education Trust, Shillong that they are coming up with a school building and would want us to help them discover a school preposition that caters provides international quality education to the kids of Shillong. Shillong used to be the education capital of the east during the British Rule in India. A beautiful hill station, it has some prestigious schools that are over 100 years old. Upon their request when we visited the school and saw a massive infrastructure that was half built. With no clue about the type of education to be provided in the school, the promoters were genuinely interested in giving the best to the town. ‘BEST IS THE WORKING STYLE AT BDW” is a phrase coined by the school and they follow it till the last T.
Shillong follows a hill calendar where schools start in February and the admissions process starts in August. On July 1, 2019, we signed up with the school with a challenge to complete the feasibility, propose a school model and to start the admissions within two months. The entire team LIFE located in our offices at Bangalore and Raipur started working on the project.
The school was supposed to be launched in April 2020, the chief minister had given the consent to inaugurate the school on April 14, 2020. Covid-19 had hit the entire world and the unaware of the future, we made the principal join and conducted staff orientation on March 15, 2019. When the lockdown was announced we were in two minds, whether we should launch the school in 2019 or delay the launch by a year. With strong determination from the management and TEAM LIFE the school was launched online on the same day i.e. April 14, 2019. This video will help you see the challenges faced by the school and our entire journey of launching the school online:
LIFE’s Role and Tenure:
LIFE EDUCARE was a turnkey school setup consultant where we conducted feasibility study, admission planning, school interiors and equipment placement advisory, resource planning, identifying enrichment programs and their implementation, Principal and Teacher recruitment, school’s systems and process designing, Teacher Training, School Branding & Promotion (from hoarding designing to website designing and from defining school offerings to executing the parent orientation sessions and complete marketing plan), curriculum designing, conducting teacher and principal training programs and necessary regulatory permissions. The School was Launched in April, 2020. LIFE EDUCARE began it’s journey of online teacher training from BDW as during COVID-19 Pandemic the borders of Meghalaya state were closed for outsiders for over six months. The handholding to the teachers who were new and never had experience of working in a progressive school had to be supported online.
LIFE EDUCARE takes pride in stating that the school was planned by us completely and the management’s trust on us and their unparalleled support makes BDW International School a truly international learning destination for the students of Shillong.
The School Discovery Exercise:
It was not easy for TEAM LIFE EDUCARE to discover the school for the client. A town that used to be the education hub since British era and three renowned schools that were over hundred years old with strong Alumni base were standing tall in front of us. Shillong that has majority of the population that follows Christianity and their belief in Missionary Run School is unquestionable. With their strong faith on the existing schools they were also looking at the 21st century Skills that the kids weren’t getting in these traditional schools. That was a focal point of the school discovery exercise. We, then planned a school model that was three times expensive than other schools of the town but offered a one stop solution for the holistic learning of their kids. Activities, Day Boarding, Extra Guidance and Coaching, additional programs that were enriching rather than mere engagement were some of the offerings that was taken by parents positively. The parents now do not have to worry about the additional activities and the academic preparations of the child and they effectively spend lesser money and time on the overall development of the child. Shillong has huge traffic problems being a hill station and the fee charged by private tutors and coaches is exorbitant. The perceived value for money quotient of BDW International School among the parents is very high.
Promoter’s & Founder Principal’s:
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LIFE has not been the same after our acquaintance with LIFE EDUCARE. Our Project took a completely new trajectory after our association was cemented. The traction and professionalism that LIFE EDUCARE has injected in the Project has helped us overtake the timelines that we had set. In addition the perspective of LIFE EDUCARE is Contemporary and comparable to the best on the globe. Outstanding dedication and continuous involvement in the Project is the hallmark of LIFE EDUCARE.
Ms. Nirmali Siangshai
Trustee & Executive Director at BDW International School
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Technology is rapidly changing and the way children learn has changed during COVID times. LIFE EDUCARE prepared BDWIS faculties to engage with the students during pandemic, not just academic subjects but also on 21st century skills. LIFE is making a meaningful difference in how schools deliver and positively influence students’ achievements. They work on relationship building between teachers, administrators, students, parents with the school board.
Ms. Sreevidya Vinay
Founder Principal at BDW International School - Shillong
LIFE EDUCARE’s Association with the School:
July 2019 – April 2020 (Planning and Setup)
May 2019 –March 2028 (Management Contract)
Summary:
BDW International School has been one of the most premium projects that LIFE has executed. Launched during difficult covid times, the school has been able to deliver value in Shillong. The school was ranked #7 in India in delivering blended learning during covid times by prestigious education magazine – EducationWorld. More about the school can be explored on https://www.bdwis.com
